Not just jeepneys. Public transport in the Philippines

An abundance of breathtaking attractions, diverse cultures, and unique flora and fauna can be found in each of the 7,641 islands of the Philippines. Therefore, coming into the country is an adventure in and of itself. What’s striking, however, is that the ingenuity of Filipinos can be seen in every corner. Especially in the common vehicles that are vital to your journey in exploring the country’s wonders! The true icon of Philippine transport is undoubtedly the colorful, impressively sized, traditional jeepney. However, this is not the only means of public transport in this island country. These are jeepneys, multicabs, buses and vans. And this is just the beginning!

Railway and subway – only in Manila

The traditional railways/metro and buses are major players in intercity travel. This is true, however, only for huge cities, especially in Luzon. The country capital, Manila, houses the only functioning rail transport system of the country. Most vehicles used by locals in provincial regions come in a smaller, more unique form.

This diversity is high and to keep your attention to the fullest, we divide this article in parts. Let us take you on the journey in the “bigger” means of transportation in the Philippines. These are jeepneys, multicabs, buses and vans. And let us say that – the journey here can be a real adventure! 3, 2, 1… GO!

Jeepneys – Kings of the Road

Hailed as a cultural icon of the Philippines, jeepneys are most common in larger cities and provinces. They serve as the backbone of public transportation. Jeepneys are ubiquitous all over the country, providing an economical option for mass transportation, hence the unofficial title, “Kings of the Road”. They are also a symbol of creativity as it is almost impossible to meet two exact same vehicles. One can see the religious elements, either in paintings or Bible verses (or both), cartoon characters, picturesque sceneries and many, many more. Therefore, a jeepney is one of the most typical elements you will find in any promotional material about the Philippines.

A bit of jeepneys history

The name “jeepney” is believed to be coming from two words. The first – “jeep” – which was the most common vehicle used by Americans in the II World War. And the second – “jitney” – is a term for a vehicle that for a cheap fare transport people. With the widespread damage to the country’s infrastructure during the war, jeepneys slowly became the most common means of mass transportation in the cities from the fifties of XX century. With the jeep as a base, it was elongated, its back seats were removed and replaced by benches on the side. To avoid the burning sun and rain, a roof was added as well. 

How to catch a jeepney?

For a person visiting the Philippines it might be shocking that even though it is considered as a means of mass transport… there are no “jeepney stops” as we know it! There are line numbers attributed to the routes and destinations, so nowadays one can find them in Google Maps. Yet, the stops are arbitrary. It means that local Filipinos know where jeepneys usually stop and where one can “catch it”. Yes, “catch” is a good word. It is because often you can just wave your hand at a random place on the street and the driver will stop. If there are seats available, that is. Nowadays, however, with increasing regulations and development it is becoming more restricted.

Once the jeepney stops, often you don’t have much time and you have to jump through the back entrance (sometimes on the go as it doesn’t really stop!). There are no separate seats, so you have to squeeze in and fit between other passengers on the bench. Bigger jeepneys have little portable wooden benches in case the side benches are already full. In that case some passengers sit in the aisle. 

How much for a ride?

Fare ranges from 7 Philippine peso up to 30-ish, depending on how many kilometers our route takes. Another peculiar feature, yet very interesting for foreigners, is paying for the ride. A passenger passes money – preferably the exact amount – to another passenger sitting next, who passes the money to the next one until it reaches a driver. If you give more money, the driver will ask/shout where you go and where you jumped in to calculate your change. Obviously, finally we have to get off. In order to do that we shout that we want to get off or knock on the roof, giving a signal to the driver that someone wants to stop. Riding a jeepney is an adventure on its own 🙂

Jeepneys – time for changes!

Many of the traditional jeepneys with unique designs and vibrant colors are still present. They are, however, slowly being replaced by “modern” jeepneys. By reading the paragraphs above, one might already sense why. Safety concerns are obviously some of the arguments against jeepneys in their current form. Aside from the way these vehicles operate, their condition is very often questionable. They are also big polluters with their old diesel engines. Last, but not least, there is an increasing demand for better modes of transportation. 

Thus, these modern jeepneys were designed to increase comfort, with better seats and air-conditioning. Moreover, they aim to decrease environmental impact with lesser carbon emissions. Nevertheless, this change is not painless. First of all, the new vehicles are much more expensive, making it difficult for a driver to purchase one. Secondly, there are strict regulations in place. These demand drivers to be part of cooperatives – another requirement that excludes many drivers from operating. Finally, the fare is simply much more expensive for passengers. 

Multicabs

In the narrower roads of provinces, a smaller, more modest form of jeepneys predominates. For example, in Tagbilaran City, the capital of Bohol, you will search in vain for the big jeepneys. The vehicles that mainly operate in the province and its smaller cities are called multicabs. Like jeepneys, they can have vibrant colors, but can be plain as well. Typically, they follow fixed routes, which are also shorter. Though they are usually used for mass transportations, you can opt to hire a multicab for a day especially if you are traveling with a group for ease of a trip.

Buses

What we mostly mean are the buses operating on inter-cities/inter-towns routes. There is, however, the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) system being built in Cebu City. Once completed, it will be the first of this kind in the country. Yet, before it’s fully operational we still can say there is rather no widespread bus transport within the cities. Some bus routes, however, exist in Manila and Cebu though, which usually transfer people between shopping malls). 

When we talk about buses that operate in the province(s), they are also interesting for foreigners. Why? First of all, there is always a driver and a conductor. The latter goes person by person when they are already seated and asks from where (if not done immediately after you go onboard) and to where you are going. Then s/he punches the tickets and leaves you until some time when s/he comes back (or someone else!) to collect your fare. It is calculated per number of kilometers you wish to go as well and the discounts you are entitled to. It depends on the type of a bus as well. 

Cheaper and more expensive options

There are a few types available on highways. First, and the most expensive is a ‘luxurious bus’ – usually with 2 seats on both sides and air-conditioning. Then, there might be a similar vehicle, but with 5-6 seats in the row. The cheaper option is the bus with separate seats, but 3 in on both sides, yet without air-conditioning. Finally, the most interesting for outsiders is the cheapest option – open-air bus (without windows) and often without doors. Sounds like a very safe ride, doesn’t it? 🙂 This type of bus usually has a very intriguing front on the driver’s side. There can be figures of Holy Mary, Jesus, Sto. Niño (this will be explained in another blog post in the future!). They can be moving, can be illuminating or a combination of both. From time to time we can also find bible verses and various pictures.

Feel the beat!

There is another peculiarity of the provincial buses in the Philippines. Very loud music! It can be international (mainly from the US and from the UK) music from 90’, 80’, or local disco or pop music. Very often the volume is very high. That high and the beats that strong, that you feel like your entire body is moving unconsciously. Sometimes you can spot a fancy lighting inside as well. Finally, what we mentioned is that this cheapest bus is open-air, so you might ask what happens when it rains. Well… there are wooden blinds that everybody takes up from the side of their seats when the weather gets worse. And put down when it’s dry again (although with this humidity it almost never does!).

Van – a bit of luxury

When you are just traveling to the Philippines and going on tours, you will definitely ride vans in many cases. These are vehicles for 8 persons or more that accommodate whole groups. Very often they are rented by the families to go for gatherings of all sorts. They are modern vehicles and have air-conditioning which makes them desirable for travel between towns on an island. 

Vans are, however, used as a means of public transport as well. There are routes of vans that can take a passenger from a place A to a place B. Sometimes they have the same or similar routes to buses. What distinguishes them from the latter is the time to get to the destination. They are faster and there are less passengers to pick up and drop off on the way. As you can imagine, they are more expensive than buses for traveling between towns. Yet, more comfortable.

And how to get to remote villages that are not reached by regular public transportation? Check the second part!

Author: Kristina M. Dumadag (USC’s Student) i Filip Wojciechowski (Kahibalo Foundation)