Introducing the Philippines' Unique Public Transportation

Here is an overview of traditional public transportation unique to the Philippines. The main types include tricycles, jeepneys, and multicabs (Figure 1). The detailed characteristics of each one of them are shown in Table 1, but tricycles are small and operate over short distances, while jeepneys and multicabs are medium-sized and run over medium distances. Some may imagine tricycles and jeepneys as part of the bustling road scene in the Philippines. Jeepneys are brightly decorated in vivid colors.

Figure 1: Philippines' Unique Public Transportation

Table 1: Overview of Public Transportation in the Philippines

Source: Zenmov data

The Paradox of Public Transportation Being Inaccessible

While traditional vehicles may add a romantic charm to the landscape, it's quite challenging non-locals to actually ride them. For instance, the fare for tricycles is generally fixed, but one must negotiate with the driver depending on the situation. Even if you manage to ride them, the interiors are often far from clean. Moreover, since the drivers are independent operators, there is no system in place to manage their schedules or align their operations with demand. During peak hours in the morning and evening, they rush to catch passengers, clogging the roads and causing traffic jams. Some drivers take naps during off-peak hours, leading to more situations where those wishing to travel cannot find a ride.

If you are considering taking a taxi instead of traditional transport, the interiors of taxis are often not much better, with malfunctioning meters, unexpected charges, or undesirable items lurking in the dashboard. Hence, if you are traveling with two or more people, it’s common advice for one person to sit in the front and secure the dashboard (luckily, I haven’t experienced such situations so far). I hardly take taxis these days. Instead, I prefer ride-hailing services like Grab, as they tend to have clearer pricing, and the drivers’ identities are more transparent compared to taxis. (Initially, the vehicles were quite clean, but on my recent trip last year, I did notice some decline in their condition. They are gradually becoming more like typical vehicles in the Philippines.)

Ride-Hailing Apps Are Convenient, But Do They Cause Traffic Jams!

Ride-hailing apps like Grab are widespread in the Philippines, with about 55,000 vehicles registered as of 2020. As I mentioned earlier, they are very convenient and I use them frequently; however, from a transportation capacity standpoint, they often circulate with just a few passengers, occupying road space without transporting a significant number of people. I believe this also contributes to the traffic congestion in the Philippines.

Solving Traffic Congestion Leads to Development

According to an estimate by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 2018, the daily economic loss caused by traffic congestion in Metro Manila area was around is 3.5 billion Philippine pesos (approximately 7.55 billion yen).

Improving public transportation that is convenient, accurate, safe, and clean, with a high passenger capacity per vehicle, will greatly contribute to the development of the Philippines. During my visits, I often hear voices from government officials, operators, and locals expressing the need for convenient and safe transportation.

利便性、正確さ、安全性、清潔さを備え、１台当たりの乗車人数の多い公共交通を整備していくことは、フィリピンの発展に大きく寄与します。現地を訪れると、政府関係者、事業者、生活者の方からも便利で安全な乗り物が必要だ、という声を数多く聞きます。

Providing Public Transportation Suited to Local Conditions!

The convenience, accuracy, safety, and cleanliness of Tokyo's public transportation can be confidently proclaimed to be world-class. The Yamanote Line and the Tōkaidō Shinkansen operate precisely even with extremely tight schedules, and it is incredibly appreciated and admirable that people of all ages and both genders can ride without anxiety. While MaaS is becoming popular, Japan has had sufficient convenience in mobility services for decades; in this sense, Japan has long developed its unique MaaS. As Zenmov, we aspire to upgrade public transportation and contribute to local mobility by transforming such disciplined elements into forms that locals can accept.