Worker says daily wage went to taxi fare amid lack of PUVs

Several commuters still had a hard time getting  to their destinations due to transportation woes on the second day of the general community quarantine.

According to Darlene Cay’s report on “24 Oras” on Tuesday, workers started to wait for a ride along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City even before sunrise.

Evelyn Espallardo, a factory worker, said she had to spend her daily wage on taxi fare on the first day of the GCQ, otherwise, she will not be able to go home.

“Paano naman po kami mga tiga Commonwealth? From highway to SM Fairview kaming mga ‘no work, no pay.’ Paano naman po mabubuhay mga pamilya namin kung wala kaming buses?,” she lamented.

“Wala na po kaming makain. Wala na po kaming pantustos sa pamilya namin lalo na po ako, maintenance po ako, mayroon po akong sakit sa puso at hypertension tapos may kapatid po ako na PWD na senior, kailangan po ng gamot namin. Paano naman po kami? Kawawa naman po kami,” Espallardo added.

Meanwhile, Salvacion Semillano, a lady guard, said she spent two hours waiting for a ride to Quiapo.

“Ang hirap nga po ng biyahe eh walang masakyan. Dalawang buwan na po akong ‘di nakapasok sa trabaho kaya nga hirap nga po eh gustong-gusto ko na po magtrabaho kaya lang ito walang masakyan talaga,” she said.

Semillano added she thought of riding a taxi but her daily wage is not enough.

“Ang mahal po, hindi kasya sa aming sweldo. P10,000 lang ang sweldo namin. Sa kain pa po namin, meryenda pa, wala na,” she said.

Moreover, a senior citizen and her daughter were also among those who waited for hours on the road.

Pio Garcia and Virginia Manlolo said they were on their way to East Avenue Medical Center to replace the former’s catheter.

“Napakahirap po kasi po sa ambulansiya po kami matagal din po kasi marami pong hinahatid na mga pasyente kaya ‘di na po kami priority na nagda-dialysis kaya naghihintay na lang po kami ng masasakyan,” Manlolo said.

Eventually, they, including Espallardo and Semillano were able to catch a free ride from Task Force Disiplina.

Earlier, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque urged private companies to limit their operations despite the GCQ.

“Pakiusap po natin ay bagamat tayo’y GCQ na, subukan pa rin po natin na mag 50-50 at least dahil talagang hindi sapat ang transportasiyon natin kung papapasukin natin ang 100% ng ating workforce,” Roque said. —Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News