Why PNR is pausing Metro Manila operations and where to find alternative routes
The Philippine National Railways (PNR) will temporarily suspend its Governor Pascual-Tutuban and Tutuban-Alabang operations beginning March 28 to accelerate the construction of the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) System in Metro Manila.
The NSCR System is a 147-kilometer railway system being built by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to connect the National Capital Region (NCR) to the regional centers of Pampanga and Laguna.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said that alternative bus routes have been arranged in coordination with the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to cater to passengers who will be affected during the PNR suspension.
He said that buses on the Tutuban route to Alabang and vice versa are expected to drop off and pick up passengers near the current PNR route.
The southbound buses will pass through Divisoria (Tutuban), Mayhaligue Street, Abad Santos Avenue, Recto Avenue, Legarda Street, Quirino Avenue, Nagtahan Flyover, Mabini Bridge, Quirino Avenue, Osmeña Highway, Nichols Entry, SLEX, Bicutan Exit, Bicutan Entry, and Alabang (Starmall).
Meanwhile, the northbound buses will 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, and Divisoria (Tutuban).
The bus trips on the Tutuban-Alabang (Southbound) route will start at 7:30 a.m., 9:10 a.m., 3 p.m., 3:20 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 9 p.m.
On the other hand, the bus trips on the Alabang-Tutuban (Northbound) route will start at 5 a.m., 6:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 11:45 a.m., 5 p.m., and 6:10 p.m.
The suspension of the PNR operations in Metro Manila is seen to expedite the construction of the NSCR by eight months and save at least P15.18 billion from the project, according to Bautista.
"PNR services will be suspended to also ensure that passengers are safe while the construction of the NSCR is underway," he added.
The construction of the NSCR System began in 2020. Once finished, it is expected to shorten travel time from Clark, Pampanga to Calamba, Laguna by less than two hours.
The DOTr said that the new railway system can accommodate 800,000 passengers per day, and is poised to decongest Metro Manila traffic and strengthen economic growth in all the cities and municipalities that it will be passing through.