“Mas gugustuhin ko pang kumain ng suloyot kasama ang pamilya ko kaysa sa nakakakain nga sa Maynila pero wala namang kinakain ang pamilya ko sa Tarlac,”
This is what Leonardo Gier Jr. said, one of the 18 construction workers who planned to walk from their workplace in Paranaque City to the province of Tarlac.
According to the report of ABS-CBN news, the construction workers were affected by the community quarantine after their workplace was forced to close.
Instead of staying in Metro Manila until April, the construction workers decided to walk 135 kilometers to their province.
They were spotted sleeping along the streets of Quezon City after walking for almost eight hours.
Leonardo Gier, isa sa mga construction worker: "Namumulikat na ang paa namin. Bagsak na kami. Pahinga lang muna hanggang umaga. Tapos lakad ulit." Tantiya nila, dalawang araw sila maglalakad bago makauwi. @ABSCBNNews pic.twitter.com/rTbw0zaErs
— Jervis Manahan (@JervisManahan) March 19, 2020
Another construction worker didn’t waste the opportunity to seek help to the authorities to bring them back home.
“Masakit na po ang paa namin kakalakad, nakikipagsapalaran lang po kami dito sa Maynila para sa pamilya namin,” Joey Lagman said.
Fortunately, the news reached the members of the PNP Directorate for Police Community Relations and gave them food and water.
Authorities also provided a vehicle to the construction workers so they’re not required to walk for another hundred kilometers to reach home.
UPDATE: Pauwi na sa Tarlac ang mga construction workers! Hindi na sila maglalakad dahil may sasakyang naghatid sa kanila.@ABSCBNNews @DZMMTeleRadyo pic.twitter.com/L6C0mHTjNl
— Jervis Manahan (@JervisManahan) March 19, 2020
Because of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, mass transportation was suspended by the government and no one could easily get out of their provinces because of the checkpoints.
Recently, President Duterte already vowed to help the people stranded because of the community quarantine.
Duterte asked the Army and the Air Force to give accommodation and food to the stranded.
He also described the situation now as a lockdown because the virus still keeps spreading.
“At this time, I don’t think that it is just a quarantine. I think we are already in the stage of a lockdown simply because the contagion continues to take its toll in the countryside.” Duterte said.