MANILA - For the past 13 years, 61-year-old Beth Revilla has commuted to work from Alabang to Pasay using the Philippine National Railways. 

As the Metro Commuter Line is set to halt Metro Manila operations starting March 28, Revilla decided it’s better to retire from work rather than brave the daily commute through other means.

“Mahihirapan na po ako magcommute sa araw-araw. Traffic po. Gigising ka ng maaga, traffic. Pag tanghali na, lalo na. Tsaka mainit,” Revilla said.

(It will be difficult for me to commute every day. It’s always traffic. If you wake up early, it’s already traffic. Especially at noon. I also find it hot to commute.)

PNR projects about 25,000 passengers will be affected as they halt operations.

The five-year suspension will make way for the construction of the North-South Commuter Railway, replacing the current Metro North Commuter Railway traversing Governor Pascual to Bicutan and Metro South Commuter Railway from Alabang to Tutuban.

Passengers said they are worried about the longer commute as they will have to take multiple modes of public transportation.

They also expect their daily budget for fares to triple.

This will be an ordeal for Refanzel Calizo who takes the PNR with her one-year-old child from Alabang to her family in Laon Laan.

“Sobrang hassle. Ma-imagine mo pa lang na mawawala ang PNR. Lalakad na lang kami ng konti, bahay na namin. Ngayon, Baclaran ilang jeep pa. Mahabang lakad pa. Kasama ko si baby. Mas mapapadalang ang bisita ko sa pamilya,” Calizo said.

(It’s too much hassle. Our stop is within walking distance from our house. Now, we’ll have to take more rides and we’ll still have to walk. I even have my baby with me. I might just take fewer visits to my family.)

But for some passengers, life must go on despite the challenge.

“Paano kaya kapag nawala ito kasi five years siya eh. Talagang magtitiyaga siguro magcommute. Hindi naman po natin pwedeng i-stop ‘yong hanapbuhay natin,” passenger Angel De Leon said.

(What will happen now if it stops for five years? We might really just have to be patient with commuting. We can’t also have our livelihood on halt over this.)

PNR employees were also sentimental after dedicating years of service along the Metro Commuter Line. 

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A train conductor for 11 years, Rodemeir Gutierrez will now have a change of scenery as he will now be deployed to drive trains in PNR’s Naga segment.

“Malungkot pero masaya. Malungkot kasi magsasara na. Masaya kasi may trabaho pa rin. Lipat lang. Malungkot kasi malayo sa pamilya,” Gutierrez said.

(Sad but happy. Sad, because it's closing. I'm happy because I still have a job, I just have to transfer. It's also sad because I will be away from my family.)

For some employees like Elmer Desiderio, his transfer to the San Pablo to Lucena route will be an advantage.

During his work in Alabang Station, he takes the daily commute from Biñan, Laguna where his family lives.

“Pabor po sa amin dahil mapapalapit po ako sa probinsya. Mabigat sa bulsa kasi araw-araw dapat may tabi ka pampamasahe. Biñan to Alabang, dalawang sakay rin,” Desiderio said.

(It is favorable because I will be closer to the province. My daily commute from Biñan to Alabang is costly since it takes me two rides to get to work.)

Ruta ng PNR mula Biñan hanggang Alabang, pansamantalang nagsara na

The Department of Transportation will deploy 23 buses near PNR stations as an alternative means of transportation.

Transport Secretary Jaime Bautista on Wednesday said dialogue is ongoing between the PNR and workers that will be affected by the closure.

"Ngayon ang last day of operations ng PNR from Manila to Alabang. Ang LTFRB ay nagbigay ng special permit to certain bus companies para matugunan ang kakulangan ng supply ng upuan dahil nga tigil ang PNRMamayang hapon may programa sa PNR at 5:30pm magkakaroon ng dialogo ang management ng PNR at employees na maapektuhan ng pagsasara," he said.

Sustainable and inclusive transport advocate AltMobility said the number of buses is not enough to service affected passengers.

AltMobility Director Ira Cruz also called on the government to look into possible modes of transportation to and from designated bus stops.

“‘Yong mga bus na idedeploy ng PNR para palitan ito para sa next five years ay siyempre hindi magbibigay ng same level ng serbisyo. Sana magkaroon sila ng plano kung paano makakapunta ang mga tao sa bus stations dahil dagdag-gastusin ito ng commuters. Sasakay pa sila ng jeep,” Cruz said.

(Those buses that PNR will deploy to replace it for the next five years will of course not provide the same level of service. I hope they have a plan on how people can get to the bus stations because it will cost commuters extra. They will even have to ride a jeep.)