Philippines Jeepney Culture
A jeepney is a 12- to 16-passenger vehicle fashioned from second-hand military Jeeps used in the Philippines as public transportation. The term comes from a combination of the words Jeep and jitney, meaning small bus following a flexible schedule that carries passengers on a regular route. Over the years, the jeepney has grown to become one of the most prevalent means of transportation in the Philippines.
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History
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During World War II, Americans set up operations in the Philippines and in doing so brought over military Jeeps. After the war ended instead of paying to ship the vehicles back to America the military left them behind. The locals commandeered the Jeeps and began using them as public transportation. A family-owned company called Sarao Motors Inc. took advantage of the new market, according to Reuters, and modified the Jeeps to more comfortably accommodate passengers. They attached metal roofs to the top to block both sun and rain and added rails around the interior to make entering and exiting the vehicles easier.
Function
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Jeepneys travel a specified route, but unlike their bus counterparts they do not stop at predetermined locations. Troy Peden, GoAbroad.com travel journalist, writes that a passenger seeking a ride must wait along the jeepney route and hail one as it passes, much like a taxi. The routes that each jeepney travels usually cannot be found printed anywhere besides the side of the vehicle itself, often making it difficult for visitors to efficiently use the system.
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Benefits
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Peden quotes jeepney fares as of 2010 to be around 2 pesos outside of Manila and around 3 to 5 pesos for local routes inside the city with higher prices for longer travel. A typical city bus fare in Manila is around 1 peso per kilometer, according to Tourism-Philippines.com. Jeepney drivers don’t stop at set locations, and passengers can take advantage of this flexibility by exiting anywhere along the route they desire. When a passenger wants to exit the jeepney, he should tap a coin on the side of the vehicle to signal the driver to stop.
Features
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As jeepneys became increasingly popular, many owners decorated their vehicles to attract customers. They would embellish their car with elaborate hood ornaments, multiple lights at the front of the car, decals and brightly colored paintings. Jeepneys are not large vehicles, and often passengers find themselves in very close quarters with others. The atmosphere is light and affable while strangers introduce themselves and converse. If a passenger far away from the driver is exiting, he will trust other passengers to help pass the fare forward.
Warning
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Lema mentions that the jeepney industry is in danger as a result of the introduction of the Manila light rail, rising fuel prices and increased mini-van sales. During the 1970s and 1980s, companies such as Sarao Motors Inc. were manufacturing more than 18 cars each day, but now often get less than four orders a month. These firms are looking for new opportunities such as entering into contracts with schools to stimulate demand.
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