Commuters rue increased transportation expenses with PNR closure

Commuters who used to take the Philippine National Railways (PNR) train now have to pay double for the alternative modes of transportation to get to their destinations.

PNR temporarily shut down the operation of its trains for the North-South Commuter Railway project.  This affected around 30,000 train passengers.

“Imbes na bilhin ko po yung gusto ko o pagkain, napupunta lang po sa pamasahe. Naapektuhan po kami. Ikinababahala namin ang limang taon po. Wala po kaming choice kasi wala po kaming ibang masakyan,” said passenger Mark Maco said in a "24 Oras" report by Marisol Abdurahman on Thursday.

(Instead of being able to buy extra food, my money now goes to fares. We are getting affected. We’re concerned about the five years. We don’t have a choice because we have nothing else to ride)

“Imbes magtitipid yung ibang pasahero, lalong napamahal. Eh yung P20, pwede pa yun bibili ng ano example pag uhaw ka na,” added passenger Carla Wong.

(We now have to pay more.  For example, with P20 we could buy drinks if we are thirsty)

The PNR management has deployed bus units to service the train passengers, but riders said they now have to pay double than their train fare.

PNR chairman Michael Macapagal inspected the bus station to check if the passengers were being serviced well.

“Kung maraming sumasakay at kulang ang buses, we will deploy more buses. Meron daw konting delays. Imbes na 30 minutes, 40 minutes silang naghihintay, but I cleared it up with the bus company,” he said.

(If there are a lot of passengers and a lack of buses, then we will deploy more buses. They said there were some delays. Instead of 30 minutes, they waited for 40 minutes, but I cleared it up with the bus company)

Macapagal added that he would raise the issue of higher fares with DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista.

Meanwhile, trolley operators along the tracks also raised their fares from P10 to P20.

“Sa P20, eto lima lang P100 na. Dati yung sampung pasahero P100… Salamat sa PNR kasi inaallow kami ganito,” said trolley operator Diego Cayubid.

(With the P20 fare, we will have P100 for five passengers. Before, we need 10 passengers to earn P100… Thank you to PNR because they allowed us here)—Jiselle Anne Casucian/LDF, GMA Integrated News