Commuters take the train going to Manila at the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Alabang station in Muntinlupa on July 3, 2023. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA -- As the Philippine National Railways (PNR) suspends the operations of its Metro Commuter Line on Thursday, March 28, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) assured thousands of  affected passengers that they will be provided with alternative modes of transportation.

Around 25,000 passengers will be affected by the stoppage of operations from the Governor Pascual station in Malabon City to Tutuban, and from Tutuban to Alabang.

“Maraming bus yung binigyan natin ng permit. Starting today, tomorrow, meron na. Sa Monday, magsisimula na ang maraming bus units na mag-ooperate doon sa naapektuhan sa pagsara ng train,” said DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista on Wednesday.

(A lot of buses have been given permits. Starting today, tomorrow, they are ready. Sa Monday, that’s when many of them will start to operate for those affected by the train’s closure.)

READ: Passengers, employees worry as PNR halts operations

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) also said in a news forum that over 50 buses have been allowed to ply the affected routes:

ALABANG-DIVISORIA: 25 BUSES
FTI-DIVISORIA: 30 BUSES
MALABON-DIVISORIA: 5 MODERN JEEPNEY UNITS

“There’s route 1 and route 2 na na-identify na namin and ang ilalagay po namin dyan are the big city buses, yung nakikita ninyo sa EDSA Carousel,” said LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III.

(There’s route 1 and route 2 which we have identified. We will deploy big city buses there, like those you see in the EDSA Carousel.)

“May isa pa kaming rutang na-identify, ang ilalagay naman po namin dyan, yung mga modernized jeepneys because they would only cater to small groups of passengers,” he added.

(We also identified another route where we will place modernized jeepneys.)

The PNR has already released the schedule of the bus trips as well as a list of bus stops located near the PNR stations.

Bus stops near PNR stations. Handout/PNRHIGHER FARE FOR PASSENGERS

But passengers are not happy with the higher fare.

From the current P30 end-to-end fare for the PNR Metro Commuter Line, they would now need to shell out P71 when they switch to the buses.

This is especially burdensome for commuter Teodolfo Sison, who was already forced to stop schooling due to financial problems.

“Mabigat po. Baka magswitch po ako sa bicycle na,” he said.

(It’s heavy on the pocket. I might just switch to riding a bicycle.)

Schedule of bus trips. Handout/PNR

Schedule of bus trips. Handout/PNR

HUNDREDS OF PNR EMPLOYEES DISPLACED

Three hundred and six PNR operations personnel will also lose their jobs, but officials vowed to give them compensation.

“Yung mga minimum wage earners, they will get katumbas ng kanilang apat na buwan na sweldo. Then yun namang mas mataas sa minimum wage ang kanilang sweldo will get equivalent of 2 months of their salary,” said PNR Head of Operations Joceline Geronimo.

(Minimum wage earners will get an equivalent of 4 months worth of their salary. Then for those earning above minimum wage, they will get an equivalent of 2 months of their salary.)

Geronimo said an additional P10,000 will be given to workers from disadvantaged sectors like persons with disabilities, solo parents, and senior citizens.

Some employees, like long-time train conductor Rodeimer Gutierrez, will be transferred to the PNR’s Bicol Region segment.

“Malungkot kasi magsasara na. Masaya kasi may trabaho parin, lipat lang. Malungkot kasi malalayo sa pamilya,” he said.

(It’s sad because this train line will close. I’m happy because I still have a job, although I will be transferred. I’m sad to be separated from my family.)

DOTr Undersecretary for Rails Jeremy Regino said displaced PNR employees will also be prioritized when they apply for jobs in any of the agency’s ongoing projects such as the North South Commuter Railway (NSCR) and the Metro Manila Subway.

“We have created placement committees. We will be recommending their names especially to the NSCR and subway contractors for possible hiring, including the security agencies that will be manning the area,” said Regino. 

The closure of PNR Metro Commuter Line is meant to give way to the construction of the 147-kilometer NSCR which will run from Pampanga to Laguna.