Commuters, employees ride PNR's farewell trips

Employees and passengers of the Philippine National Railways bid its trains farewell on Wednesday.

According to Raffy Tima's report on "24 Oras," the five-year hiatus of the PNR will start on Maundy Thursday to give way for the construction of the North-South Commuter Railway.

The NSCR will connect the Clark Freeport Zone, Metro Manila, and Calamba in Laguna.

"Malaking katipiran talaga. Kasi P24 lang, Alabang to Tutuban. Samantalang, 'pag bus ay P50," PNR commuter Violate Rabago said.

(Riding the PNR saves us a lot. It's just P24 from Alabang to Tutuban. In contrast, bus trips cost P50.)

As part of the farewell, employees and their loved ones hopped on the train bound for Alabang which turned around to return to Tutuban.

"Humihingi po kami ng paumanhin at humihingi kami ng konting pasensya sa ating riding public," PNR chairman Michael Ted Macapagal said.

(We apologize and we're asking for patience from the riding public.)

For the train line employees who will lose their jobs, the Department of Transportation is offering employment in other DOTr agencies.