Jeepneys are Unsustainable

A recent World Bank report concluded that the Jeepney was an unsustainable transport solution for Cebu. I'd like to read a copy of that report. I suspect the same judgement applies to other cities as well. We all have a first hand experience with the effect of jeeps on the road. The constant weaving, slowing and stopping hinders traffic flow. When traffic density is low the effect can be ignored. At higher densities, the effects tend to compound.

The question then is: what do we do with the Jeep. Should we keep it around and suffer the consequences? Do we get rid of it and lose a part of our culture?


I think the proper mindset is that we should maximize their use in a cultural and practical sense. That means offsetting the disadvantages and capitalizing on advantages. One example would be to limit their use to certain areas -  perhaps lower density roads or cultural sites. We should also look into converting existing vehicles to electric or LPG to reduce pollution.

Now some may balk at this because operators will be displaced. Perhaps they can become eligible for skill retraining from the TESDA. They may even get a higher income with a different job. Maybe they can be part of the crews of the BRT or MRT. How about having the Department of Environment and Natural Resources or Department of Tourism pay them to watch over turtles and whale sharks?

The important thing is to look at possibilities instead of impossibilities.