Hungry and homeless: Philippine 'jeepney' drivers hit by the virus

First made from leftover US jeeps after World War II - 'jeepney' are a national symbol

Published: August 16, 2020 14:13 AFP and compiled by Devadasan K P, Picture Editor

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A jeepney driver wearing a face mask and a placard reading "sir/mam, asking for help, we are jeepney drivers" receives alms from a motorist on a road in Manila. The Philippines plunged into recession after its biggest quarterly contraction on record, data showed, as the economy reels from coronavirus lockdowns that have wrecked businesses and thrown millions out of work. Image Credit: AFP

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A child sits next to the stearing wheel of his father's jeepney serving as their temporary home . Image Credit: AFP

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Jeepney driver Daniel Flores cooks lunch inside their jeepney, used also as their temporary house parked along a road.Forced off the road by coronavirus lockdowns, Philippine "jeepney" driver Daniel Flores now plies the streets of Manila on foot begging for money to feed his hungry family. The 23-year-old has not picked up a passenger since March when public transport was halted and people ordered to stay home as President Rodrigo Duterte's government tried to slow the fast-spreading contagion. Image Credit: AFP

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Quennie, wife of jeepney driver Daniel Flores, holds a kilo of rice and eggs for their lunch at their jeepney. With no income and debts piling up, Flores started living in the jeepney with his wife, two of his children and a fellow driver after they were evicted from their apartment because they could no longer pay the rent. Instead of sitting behind the wheel, Flores has spent many days begging for alms just to get by. Image Credit: AFP

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Jobless jeepney drivers line up to receive food donations as public transportation was again restricted during the lockdown in Quezon city. Drivers have received some money and food handouts from the government. But it does not make up for their lost income. Image Credit: AFP

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Jeepney drivers wearing face masks queue up to receive food aid from a concerned resident in Manila. Even when the initial lockdown restrictions in Manila were eased in June only a fraction of the city's roughly 55,000 jeepneys were allowed to operate under strict rules. Image Credit: AFP

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A jeepney driver hangs his clothes on his jeepney serving as his temporary home. Flattened cardboard boxes cover the side windows and rear entrance to give the family some privacy - and a feeling of protection from the virus they fear is lurking outside. Image Credit: AFP

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Wife of a jeepney driver attends to her daughter inside their jeepney serving as their temporary home parked along a road in Manila. Image Credit: AFP

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An elderly woman drink coffee next to her grandchildren inside their jeepney serving as their temporary home. Image Credit: AFP

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A resident walks past jeepneys serving as temporary homes parked along a road in Manila. Jeepney drivers have not picked up passengers in Manila since March when the popular minibuses were forced off the road by a coronavirus lockdown that has left millions out of work. Image Credit: AFP

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Hungry and homeless: Philippine 'jeepney' drivers hit by the virus

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