Manila Bulletin
Philippines
People on mass exodus to provinces avoid being locked down in Metro Manila
Philippines
People on mass exodus to provinces avoid being locked down in Metro Manila
People on mass exodus to provinces avoid being locked down in Metro Manila
Published Mar 14, 2020 12:00 am
By Joseph Almer Pedrajas
Throngs of people scrambled to get bus rides in Metro Manila as they flee to the provinces ahead of the community quarantine that will be imposed March 15 in a bid to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Passengers at bus stations in Cubao, Quezon City try to catch available bus trips going to provinces before the implementation of Community Quarantine in Metro Manila on Saturday. (Photo by Jansen Romero)
In Quezon City, where Mayor Joy Belmonte already declared a state of calamity, passengers swarmed the Araneta Bus Terminal in Cubao to catch a ride bound for the provinces.
During the community quarantine from March 15 to April 14, Malacañang urged everyone to practice “social-distancing” or keeping away at least a meter away from each other. Despite this guideline, 69-year-old Norma Midolor, who is aware that she belongs to a group more vulnerable to the virus, did not mind joining the crowd just to catch a bus bound for Camarines Sur.
“Nami-miss na po kami ng pamilya namin . Pinapauwi na ako,” she said when the Manila Bulletin chanced upon her sitting on a pavement on Saturday with several medium-sized belongings.
During her four-month vacation in Metro Manila, Midolor stayed at her child's house in Quezon City, where there are already seven residents positive for COVID-19 as of press time.
However, Midolor does not fear catching the virus as she has “been using alcohol and washing hands with soap all the time.”
“Kahit saan kayo pumunta, kapag dapuan kayo ng sakit, dadapuan pa rin (No matter where you go, there’s always a chance you catch a disease),” she argued.
Christian Rabo, 23, who rents a house in Pasig City with her wife and daughter, would be staying in Albay province during the one-month quarantine of Metro Manila.
The head of the family, who makes a living through selling ‘Iskrambol’ outside schools in Pasig, was left without choice but to leave as he could no longer earn money now.
“Mahirap po ditto, eh, 'yung trabaho ko po. Kumbaga nahinto na kasi mahina ang kita (Life is difficult here when your source of livelihood is off),” Christian, who was wearing a re-usable face mask, said.
Her wife said, they agreed to stay in Albay because they would not get hungry there.
“Mahirap kapag nag-stay pa kami dito ng matagal, magugutom kami, wala kaming pera. Sapat lang kasi (It’s difficult if we stay here as without money, we will get hungry. We earned just enough)” she said. "Hindi katulad sa Albay na hindi kami magugutom kasi anihan na doon (Unlike inAlbay where we will not get hungry as it is already harvest time there).”
“’Di nga kami mamatay sa virus, pero mamatay naman kami sa gutom ditto (We survived the virus, but we will die of hunger),” added Judylyn, while carrying their one-year-old baby.
The Rabo family arrived at the Araneta Bus Terminal as early as 7 a.m., to ensure that they could get on board a bus that would depart for Bicol by 6 p.m.
Government officials on Saturday evening announced that travel to and from Metro Manila would be limited, if not restricted, during the period of community quarantine.
The plan trigged panic to people, particularly those originally living in provinces. And since a day after the announcement of the community quarantine, many have already scrambled to various provincial bus terminals to secure a booking.
“Wala nang nakuhang bus yung asawa ko noong Biyernes. Ang ginawa ko nag-post ako sa Facebook kung may pupunta ng Albay (My husband failed to book a ride last Friday. What I did now is post a query on Facebook if there is available trip to Albay),” Judylyn said, sharing the reason she was able to secure a ride while others were still trying their luck.
Many provincial bus companies were already fully booked, while some also already suspended operations. This include Eagle Star, which used to offer rides bound for Samar and Leyte.
“Mahirap ipagsapalaran 'yung mga pasahero. Last day na namin ngayong Sabado, 'yung mga bus namin nakaalis na lahat (It’s difficult to take chances on passengers. It’s our last day and all our buses left already,” said cashier Amir Reyes, after putting a “close” sign on their booth.
Reyes said their company would cease its operations during the quarantine period as he believes their buses would no longer be allowed to enter Metro Manila.
“Yung balik ng mga driver ay siguro pagtapos na ng lockdown. Sa April na 'yun (Drivers will make a return trip after the lockdown, that is by April),” he added.
With the difficulty of booking a ride, it was learned that some were offering “special trips,” including vans worth P1,400 for a ride to Bicol.
The community quarantine did not only make people to flee to the provinces. It also triggered panic-buying spree, hoarding of foods and basic necessities.
Outside a supermarket in Manila, people lined up to get inside even before the store opened.
“Baka kasi hindi na makalabas pag nag-lockdown, kaya bumili na ako ng mga pagkain pang isang lingo (We might not be able to get out of our homes during the lockdown),” said Jonalyn Bernardo, who bought rice, canned goods, and instant noodles after falling in line for about 30 minutes.
Passengers at bus stations in Cubao, Quezon City try to catch available bus trips going to provinces before the implementation of Community Quarantine in Metro Manila on Saturday. (Photo by Jansen Romero)
In Quezon City, where Mayor Joy Belmonte already declared a state of calamity, passengers swarmed the Araneta Bus Terminal in Cubao to catch a ride bound for the provinces.
During the community quarantine from March 15 to April 14, Malacañang urged everyone to practice “social-distancing” or keeping away at least a meter away from each other. Despite this guideline, 69-year-old Norma Midolor, who is aware that she belongs to a group more vulnerable to the virus, did not mind joining the crowd just to catch a bus bound for Camarines Sur.
“Nami-miss na po kami ng pamilya namin . Pinapauwi na ako,” she said when the Manila Bulletin chanced upon her sitting on a pavement on Saturday with several medium-sized belongings.
During her four-month vacation in Metro Manila, Midolor stayed at her child's house in Quezon City, where there are already seven residents positive for COVID-19 as of press time.
However, Midolor does not fear catching the virus as she has “been using alcohol and washing hands with soap all the time.”
“Kahit saan kayo pumunta, kapag dapuan kayo ng sakit, dadapuan pa rin (No matter where you go, there’s always a chance you catch a disease),” she argued.
Christian Rabo, 23, who rents a house in Pasig City with her wife and daughter, would be staying in Albay province during the one-month quarantine of Metro Manila.
The head of the family, who makes a living through selling ‘Iskrambol’ outside schools in Pasig, was left without choice but to leave as he could no longer earn money now.
“Mahirap po ditto, eh, 'yung trabaho ko po. Kumbaga nahinto na kasi mahina ang kita (Life is difficult here when your source of livelihood is off),” Christian, who was wearing a re-usable face mask, said.
Her wife said, they agreed to stay in Albay because they would not get hungry there.
“Mahirap kapag nag-stay pa kami dito ng matagal, magugutom kami, wala kaming pera. Sapat lang kasi (It’s difficult if we stay here as without money, we will get hungry. We earned just enough)” she said. "Hindi katulad sa Albay na hindi kami magugutom kasi anihan na doon (Unlike inAlbay where we will not get hungry as it is already harvest time there).”
“’Di nga kami mamatay sa virus, pero mamatay naman kami sa gutom ditto (We survived the virus, but we will die of hunger),” added Judylyn, while carrying their one-year-old baby.
The Rabo family arrived at the Araneta Bus Terminal as early as 7 a.m., to ensure that they could get on board a bus that would depart for Bicol by 6 p.m.
Government officials on Saturday evening announced that travel to and from Metro Manila would be limited, if not restricted, during the period of community quarantine.
The plan trigged panic to people, particularly those originally living in provinces. And since a day after the announcement of the community quarantine, many have already scrambled to various provincial bus terminals to secure a booking.
“Wala nang nakuhang bus yung asawa ko noong Biyernes. Ang ginawa ko nag-post ako sa Facebook kung may pupunta ng Albay (My husband failed to book a ride last Friday. What I did now is post a query on Facebook if there is available trip to Albay),” Judylyn said, sharing the reason she was able to secure a ride while others were still trying their luck.
Many provincial bus companies were already fully booked, while some also already suspended operations. This include Eagle Star, which used to offer rides bound for Samar and Leyte.
“Mahirap ipagsapalaran 'yung mga pasahero. Last day na namin ngayong Sabado, 'yung mga bus namin nakaalis na lahat (It’s difficult to take chances on passengers. It’s our last day and all our buses left already,” said cashier Amir Reyes, after putting a “close” sign on their booth.
Reyes said their company would cease its operations during the quarantine period as he believes their buses would no longer be allowed to enter Metro Manila.
“Yung balik ng mga driver ay siguro pagtapos na ng lockdown. Sa April na 'yun (Drivers will make a return trip after the lockdown, that is by April),” he added.
With the difficulty of booking a ride, it was learned that some were offering “special trips,” including vans worth P1,400 for a ride to Bicol.
The community quarantine did not only make people to flee to the provinces. It also triggered panic-buying spree, hoarding of foods and basic necessities.
Outside a supermarket in Manila, people lined up to get inside even before the store opened.
“Baka kasi hindi na makalabas pag nag-lockdown, kaya bumili na ako ng mga pagkain pang isang lingo (We might not be able to get out of our homes during the lockdown),” said Jonalyn Bernardo, who bought rice, canned goods, and instant noodles after falling in line for about 30 minutes.