Jeepneys in the Philippines: Icon of ingenuity making last lap in transporting history?

TOURIST DRIVE: No visit to the Philippines is complete without a “jeepney” ride. The iconic vehicle is the king of last-mile transport in the Asian country. At one point, an estimated 600,000 jeepneys were registered in the archipelago. Now they’re down to about 250,000. And soon, that number may be down to a select few, as cultural showpieces.

PRACTICAL CONVEYANCE: The jeepney has been a huge part of transportation economics in the country. The jeepney, much like Filipinos' transformation of American canned goods, represents a metamorphosis of discarded materials into something valuable. The Filipino jeepney version is designed to be useful or practical rather than attractive.

JEEPNEY GENESIS: By design, jeepneys are present-day permutations of the World War II-era general-purpose (GP) vehicles – jeeps – left behind by Americans at the end of conflict, which left bombed-out Manila in smithereens. Hundreds of thousands still rely heavily on jeepneys as an affordable, reliable daily commute solution.

INGENUITY: The jeepney has been invariably dubbed as an icon of Filipino ingenuity, resilience and adaptation in the face of odds. It transcends its role as mere transportation, becoming a symbol deeply embedded in the Filipino psyche. That’s the cultural part. Then there’s the economic and practical part.

RUGGED, UTILITARIAN: The jeepney is also seen to embody an intertwining of ruggedness, utility, community ties, resourcefulness, and a profound sense of can-do spirit. In the Philippines, the jeepney is seen as a testament to resilience and innovation in the face of adversity.

SARAO: A recognised innovator of the first jeepneys in Philippines is Leonardo Salvador Sarao (inset, April 13, 1921 – July 31, 2001), the founder and owner of Sarao Motors, a company known for designing, manufacturing and selling the jeepney. Another brands include Amante, Malaguena, Morales, LGS, Hataw Motors, F.G. Motors, Armak, Lippad, among others.

CULTURAL EXPRESSION: Jeepneys are more than just a mode of transportation; they are an expression of the distinctively Filipino cultural milieu. It is the most common mode of public transport in the Philippines, adorned with colorful stickers and hand-painted artworks. Jeepneys have been used as a mode of transportation in the Philippines since the 1950s.

BORLOLOYS: Most jeepneys still on Philippine roads are bare-bones, practical contraptions. Some had been jazzed up with lots of “borloloy” – distinctly Filipino accessories and embellishments, including elaborate paintings, shiny metallic features, fancy music systems and the like.

JOBS: This cultural and economic icon provides livelihood to thousands of drivers, mechanics, and vendors who rely on them for their daily income.

COMMUNITY BONDS: These vibrant vehicles are more than a mode of transit; they foster a sense of community. Packed with passengers, jeepneys create spaces for spontaneous conversations, connections, and friendships. Singing, storytelling, and acts of kindness among passengers are commonplace, forging a unique camaraderie. ‘Dyip’, acrylic on canvas painting by Filipino artist Abelardo Maceda Jr.

NAVIGATING MODERN CHALLENGES: In terms of design, and safety features, the jeepney hasn’t improved much, sort of stuck in the 1950s, akin to the vintage American taxis in Cuba. In the 21st century, the jeepney faces challenges such as emissions and safety. Some really old ones (25 years or more), are rundown vehicles posing clear public safety issues. Most jeepneys are owned and operated by individuals.

PHASE-OUT: One inherent problem: jeepneys, while useful, face wear and tear, like any other vehicle. Many of the jeepneys with franchise to ply Philippine roads today, are downright rolling dinosaurs. Regulations and modernisation efforts have caught up with the jeepneys. In 2017, the Public Utility Vehicle Modernisation Programme (PUVMP) was launched by the Department of Transportation. The goal: to make the country's public transport system efficient and greener by 2020. Filipino jeepney drivers staging a strike demanding the scrapping of the modernisation programme.

CONSOLIDATION: The imminent phaseout is being pushed by the Department of Transportation (DoTr) via mandatory franchise consolidation. So instead of individual franchises, only one cooperative or corporation will be issued a franchise to ply a single route. Traditional jeepney and utility van express (UVE) vehicles not consolidated into a cooperative or corporation will no longer be allowed to operate beyond January 31, 2024.

FINANCIAL INCENTIVES: The government has offered financial incentives to owners retiring their good old jeepneys. The consolidation mandate is a bridge to financing by state banks the acquisition of a modern fleet like these minibuses to replace the iconic jeepneys.

SOUPED-UP JEEPNEYS: The push for industry consolidation could see the jeepneys getting souped up with modern eco-friendly drive trains, WiFi connectivity, cameras and other modern safety features. Electric-powered and Euro 4-compliant jeepneys were introduced as sustainable alternatives, addressing environmental concerns while preserving tradition. The move has been pushed back, through a series of transport strikes. A modern jeepney fitting with Euro-5 rated diesel engine.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: To preserve its historical significance while addressing contemporary issues, the government has stated that modern jeepneys that adhere to the rules will be allowed to operate as public utility vehicles. Old ones must be kept up to speed or just hit the scrapyard.

BALANCING TRADITION AND PROGRESS: Amidst this new drive and mandatory consolidation of public utility vehicles, the Philippines must strike a delicate balance. The jeepney remains a cherished emblem and continues to symbolise Filipino tenacity—a cultural icon standing the test of time. At the same time, commuters deserve, better safer mode of conveyance. A look inside a modern jeepney replacement, a minibus fitted with GPS, WiFi, cameras, seatbelts and AC.