Modes of Transportation in the Philippines

A typical Jeepney in the Philippines

The transportations in Philippines are as variety as other countries in the world. But the distinguished transportations that make the country different from the rest of the world would be the Jeepney and Tricycle.

Jeepney

Jeepney has a very interesting history to trace back. When the Second World War had ended the United State of America troops sold their used jeeps to the local Philipino people. They later added metal roof over the jeeps and transformed into passenger jeeps. And it has become to be known as “Jeepney.”

Jeepney is widely used for public transportation across the nation. Based on the original frame of the Jeep body, Philipinos added a unique form of “Buffalo" in the design. Nowadays Jeepneys are run to carry passengers sufficiently even in Metro-Manila. The fare is cheaper compared to the Bus transportation. However, for a taller guy, it is not quite comfortable to ride in the jeepneys since the roof is a little bit low. But it is truly useful since the jeepney lines run to and fro of the city.

No surprised! Everyone who has been to Philippines would have to ride a jeepney once or more. The other interesting thing I find it in Jeepney is that when the jeepney runs for line, there is no conductor in the jeep. The driver himself is doing the conductor’s job. He receives and refunds money changes while he is driving.

Tricycles

Another common transportation in Philippines is Tricycle which is sidecar. It has engine. Originally it is Motorcycle. But a side cart with two wheels is added to the side. While the original Motorcycle could be used to carry only two or maximum three passengers, the tricycle could transport five passengers. The tricycles carry passengers along the small streets in the city.

In Philippines, walking on foot is not a common practice. I have rarely seen people walking when it comes to a distance which will take more than five minutes. So what they do is to take the tricycles. Plus the fare is affordable as well.

Buses

Buses run for 24 hours a day along major roads. After the Jeepney, Bus is the second most common utilized public transportation in Philippines. The technologies seem to be imported but the body designs are made and assembled in the Philippines. There are fully air-conditioned Buses with higher fare and ordinary Buses with low fare.

Since there is only one major road which is called EDSA in the Metro- Manila, the traffic is horribly annoying in the morning and afternoon. And the traffic rules are not faithfully observed. There is also a funny joke regarding traffic rules in Philippines.

Green sign means go
Yellow sign means run
Red sign means go anyway!

The most beautiful freedom in utilizing public transportation in Philippines is that you can stop the bus and alight at anywhere you would like to. There are bus stops but you do not necessarily wait for that bus stop.

Trains

There are trains that run across Manila city. They are convenient to use. There are MRT one line and three other LRT lines. Though in the early morning and at evening the trains are crowded as well but they are fully air-conditioned and punctually timed. Automatic plastic train cards are used to ride the trains. At every station the tickets are available at the ticket booths. There are two types of tickets which are stored value and single journey tickets. Stored value ticket can be used for several trips until the balance is fully consumed with bonus ride. But the single journey ticket can be used only for one time ride.