If you are living or you have lived in the Philippines, you will know how the concoction of car brands compete for each other. In a study, it says 35-40% of the population owns a car or any type of vehicle, while the others do not even have a single motorcycle. Majority of the population in the country rides the most popular mean of transportation, the jeepney. They have become so many in numbers that they already considered as one of the noted culture of the country. They are usually covered with flamboyant decorations, colorful body, and most especially, crowded seating arrangement.
They were originally from the US Military. They were left in the country after the world war II and since then, they were used by the locals for public transportation. A jeepney originally resembled like the Willys-Knight, car manufactured for the US military dating back decades ago. But as years went by, local manufacturers of jeepney made subsequent changes that can be seen on the modern jeepneys.
Most of these jeepneys were made from surplus or old trucks, usually from Japan, then turned to a jeepney. These productions are primarily located in Cebu and Cavite.
The modern look of a jeepney nowadays resembles more likely of a Hummer or an oversize van from Toyota Tamaraw or a Mitsubishi L300. Jeepneys are produced in bulk, that is why their number rapidly increase. The major roads and highways of the country are not seen without jeepneys. Its a very normal scenery to go out, and ride a jeepney to where you are bound to. They are usually coined as 'Hari ng Daan' or 'King of the Road'.
A few years ago, the government issued a resolution that jeepneys cannot operate if it does not comply with the environmental guidelines. They must not emit deadly black smokes, emission testing must be done regularly, jeepneys cannot operate beyond the specified route and others. This is done to promote the wellness of the jeepneys as it also reflects the whole country.
Automobile Blog March Archive
