The Philippine government declares war on a beloved vehicle

VENETIANS have their vaporettos, Londoners their double-deckers, Japanese their bullet trains and Filipinos their jeepneys. None of those other vehicles, however, is as dirty, dangerous and uncomfortable as the jeepney, a Frankenstein’s monster of a minibus that was first cobbled together some 70 years ago. Yet when the government announced plans to phase jeepneys out, opponents accused it of trying to expunge the soul of the nation.

The first jeepneys were made from surplus jeeps that American forces left behind after the second world war. Enterprising Filipinos added benches and a roof, creating affordable public transport and a host of small businessmen, who owned and sometimes drove the vehicles. In due course, jeepneys were embellished with chrome decorations, colourful streamers, fairy lights and gaudy paintings of everything from Jesus Christ to fighter jets. Many are also fitted with deafening stereo systems. The supply of surplus jeeps dried up long ago, so the builders now take superannuated diesel trucks from Japan and add bodywork vaguely reminiscent of a jeep. A short hop around Manila costs 8 pesos ($0.16).