Philippines plans to run jeepneys off the road. Drivers say their livelihoods will be ‘massacred’
- President Duterte’s crackdown has been criticised as ‘bogus and big business modernisation’
- The government claims jeepneys need to go because they are old, dirty and unsafe
“Proudly Philippines,” says jeepney maker Don Salvaleon, nodding towards the country’s flag stuck on one of the vehicles in his workshop in Rizal province, about two hours southeast of central Manila.
While the vehicles fill a gaping hole in public transport left unaddressed by the government, Filipinos have a love-hate relationship with them. A jeepney ride starts at nine pesos in cities and eight pesos in provinces, with each able to carry about 13 passengers, though the colourfully decorated vehicles usually pack more people in.
The jeepney is so strongly tied to Philippine culture, a model of one is virtually the first thing people see when stepping off the plane at the airport.
Two years ago when authorities launched the plan, there was a huge outcry on social media, with Filipinos supporting resistant drivers and operators, pointing out they would struggle to afford new vehicles.
