(Source: Philippine National Railways)

You might have heard the news that the Philippine National Railways (PNR) will halt its Metro Manila operations for five years. This is after PNR announced that they will stop the Governor Pascual-Tutuban and Tutuban-Alabang routes starting March 28 to give way to the construction of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) project in the region.

The closure, which was originally planned for February is expected to speed up the completion of the NSCR by eight months, and will save P15.18 billion. It would also lessen the risk to public safety while the construction is ongoing.

Transportation Undersecretary Jeremy Regino said the NSCR is a 147-kilometer elevated railway system from Clark, Pampanga up to Calamba, Laguna, criss-crossing the entire length of Metro Manila using the right-of-way of the PNR.  

"That precisely is the reason why we need to stop operations since the track that the PNR is currently utilizing will be right where the pillars of the elevated NSCR system will be installed," Regino said in an interview over the weekend.

"On the average, there will be around 20,000 passengers affected by the suspension of the operations daily," he added.

To compensate for the suspension of the PNR's operations and accommodate affected passengers, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will put up alternate bus routes with stops close to the usual PNR train stations.  

The 5-year closure is definitely a long time, so if you are one of the commuters who frequently ride PNR Metro Manila routes, it may sound like a hassle. But worry no more, because here are the routes of the alternative buses: 

Buses from Tutuban to Alabang (southbound) will pass through: 

• Divisoria (Tutuban)
• Mayhaligue Street
• Abad Santos Avenue
• Recto Avenue
• Legarda Street
• Nagtahan Flyover
• Mabini Bridge
• Quirino Avenue
• Osmeña Highway
• Nichols Entry
• South Luzon Expressway (SLEX)
• Bicutan Exit 
• Bicutan Entry
• Alabang (Starmall) 

Bus trips on the southbound route will start at 7:30 am, 9:10 am, 3:00 pm, 3:20 pm, 7:30 pm, and the last trip will be at 9:00 pm.   

Buses from Alabang to Tutuban (northbound) wil pass through:

• Alabang (Starmall) 
• Manila South Road 
• East Service road
• Alabang (Entry) 
• SLEX
• Bicutan Exit
• Bicutan Entry 
• Nichols Exit
• Osmeña Highway
• Quirino Avenue
• Legarda Street
• Recto Avenue
• Abad Santos Avenue
• Mayhaligue Street
• Divisoria (Tutuban) 

Bus trips on the northbound route will start at 5:00 am, 6:30 am, 11:00 am, 11:45 am, 5:00 pm, and the last trip will be at 6:10 pm. 

Proposed bus stops near PNR stations: 

Bus fares for the said routes will follow LTFRB’s implemented fare for public buses. It will start at P15 for the first five kilometers and add P2.26 for each succeeding kilometer.

Even though the Metro Manila operations are halted, PNR clarified that the Southern Luzon operations will still continue.

The NSCR, considered the Philippines’ state-of-the-art rail line, will have 18 elevated stations. It is expected to cut travel time from Clark, Pampanga, all the way to Calamba, Laguna by less than two hours. Connecting to the Metro Manila Subway, it is envisioned to decongest Metro Manila traffic, providing more economic opportunities for the Filipino people.

The NSCR Project completes its 14-kilometer Viaduct, which runs from Bocaue to Malolos, Bulacan. (JVD/PIA-NCR)