Jeepneys and pollution

           Terrible also in Baguio.  Here in Ilocos Sur most all the jeepneys have also been replaced by vans.  On the 9 miles between here and Vigan saw no jeepneys yesterday.    The jeepneys do have superior artwork and are a few pesos cheaper, still not worth it.

Rest assured, the old ass smokey jeepneys have not left Cebu. Maybe they barred from certain parts of the city and that's where you were? I don't know. But I drive my car up to the city (3 hrs ea way) every 3-4 weeks for supplies and they clog up plenty of areas along the way. I rarely see one as far south as Argao. But they are there occasionally. I would say we start to see them about 10 kms north of Argao and as you get closer to the city, there are more.

    Rest assured, the old ass smokey jeepneys have not left Cebu. Maybe they barred from certain parts of the city and that's where you were? I don't know. But I drive my car up to the city (3 hrs ea way) every 3-4 weeks for supplies and they clog up plenty of areas along the way. I rarely see one as far south as Argao. But they are there occasionally. I would say we start to see them about 10 kms north of Argao and as you get closer to the city, there are more.
   
    -@Larry Fisher

Too bad that government officials in this country were seduced by fantasies of quickly changing the jeepney culture here into EVs that no drivers can afford. There must have been money in it for somebody but the reality is that replacing each Jeepney and tricycle here with overpriced electric vehicles sucking overpriced electricity is ludicrous. But the climate business does benefit a few...

Yes Dan, trying to remove a cultural icon that is known world wide as the Philippines and has served and still serves the people of this country well, It's easy to repower a jeepney with a modern fuel efficient engine and keep the heritage and simplicity.

It's the same in all countries they hammer the small fry and ignore the real problems. I've said enough.

Cheers, Steve. 

@bigpearl

Fond memories of my 1st jeepney ride on my 2nd visit to the Philippines in 2005.

Staying at the Atlantis dive resort in Dauin Dumaguete and I was meeting up with my Filipina neighbours Aunt at the Malapatay fish market.

My gf and I got on the jeepney coming from the city end. After a couple of stops the jeepney was akin to a sardine can full of passengers.

To my surprise the jeepney stopped for an elderly lady who must have been in her 80's.

They manually 'loaded' her onto the floor in the 'prone' position. She was smiling all the time loving the attention. During the 'loading' process I got the giggles and went into hysterical laughter thinking of all the health and safety rules that would have been broken on the proverbial London clapham omnibus. I was the only foreigner on board and everyone else started laughing with me.

A priceless memory that will always stay with me.

    When I last visited Cebu I was pleasantly surprised to find that there were no more jeepneys plying the main routes there, they had all been replaced by vans.
I really do hope that this will eventually happen throughout the Philippines. It really is so crazy that when you have to register your car (a private car) each year you have to have a smoke test and most of the jeepneys could never ever pass the most basic smoke test. I live near Cagayan De Oro and most people still travel by jeepney and the pollution they cause is terrible...... hats off to Cebu for getting rid of them.
   

    -@FindlayMacD

Sure, we can get rid of all that makes the Philippines unique. Outlaw roosters and chickens and goats on residential properties. Karaoke above x dB is illegal. No more drinking red horse and Tanduay in public at the sari sari stores. Dogs must be licensed or put down. No more fiestas that encourage public drunkenness and traffic accidents and worse, noise until 4:00AM keeping the resident foreigners awake. And of course, jeepneys that you were so happy to see going a step in the right direction, in your foreign mind. And once we get rid of all these things that define this country, what will we have? Another boring place to spend afternoons at the sports bar watching foreign rugby or football or western films on Netflix. So what are we doing here if we hate this rough around the edges culture so much?

`

So happens, Jeepneys are in the news this morning. Must say, the officials sound determined, and the protestors sound quite desperate?

[Members of Manibela stage a protest at the Office of the Ombudsman yesterday as they filed a graft case against transportation officials over the government’s public utility vehicle modernization program.]

Transport Execs Sued Over Jeepney Phaseout

MANILA, Philippines — Transport group Manibela yesterday filed a graft complaint against Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista and officials of the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in connection with the impending phaseout of traditional jeepneys under the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

The transport group specifically wanted Guevara and the transport officials to be held liable for violating Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, RA 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees as well as for grave threats and grave coercion as defined and penalized under the Revised Penal Code.

“All these violations constitute grave and serious misconduct committed by the respondents and they should be dismissed from public office and be barred from ever holding public office,” Manibela urged the ombudsman.

The transport group’s five-page complaint affidavit stemmed from the LTFRB’s issuance of Memorandum Circular No. 2023-051 dated Dec. 14, 2023, ordering PUV operators and drivers to consolidate into cooperatives as their individual franchises shall be considered automatically revoked by Dec. 31, 2023.

By then, the unconsolidated jeepneys, even if registered with the Land Transportation Office, shall no longer be allowed to ply the streets and pick up passengers, the memorandum circular stated.

Manibela said no hearings or consultations were held with PUV drivers or operators before the issuance of the consolidation order, which the group said was meant to favor foreign manufacturers.

The officials also failed to serve and protect the interest of the people as well as the affected sector’s right to “life, liberty and property,” which is enshrined in the Constitution, the group said.

The respondents also failed to display patriotism required from public officials under Section 4 of RA 6713 by favoring foreign vehicle suppliers even when there are local entities that have long been in the business of vehicle manufacturing such as the Francisco Motors Corp. and Sarao Motors Inc.

The transport group manifested before the ombudsman that it is reserving the right to file a supplemental complaint to include suppliers of the so-called modern jeeps as well as the regional directors of DoTr and LTFRB.

The LTFRB initially gave traditional jeepney operators and drivers until June 30 last year to consolidate into cooperatives.

The deadline was extended to Dec. 31, but major transport groups, such as Manibela and Piston, pushed through with their weeklong strikes to oppose the consolidation as well as the traditional jeepney phaseout.

Ref:  https://www.philstar.com/nation/2024/02 … y-phaseout

        When I last visited Cebu I was pleasantly surprised to find that there were no more jeepneys plying the main routes there, they had all been replaced by vans. I really do hope that this will eventually happen throughout the Philippines. It really is so crazy that when you have to register your car (a private car) each year you have to have a smoke test and most of the jeepneys could never ever pass the most basic smoke test. I live near Cagayan De Oro and most people still travel by jeepney and the pollution they cause is terrible...... hats off to Cebu for getting rid of them.        -@FindlayMacD

Sure, we can get rid of all that makes the Philippines unique. Outlaw roosters and chickens and goats on residential properties. Karaoke above x dB is illegal. No more drinking red horse and Tanduay in public at the sari sari stores. Dogs must be licensed or put down. No more fiestas that encourage public drunkenness and traffic accidents and worse, noise until 4:00AM keeping the resident foreigners awake. And of course, jeepneys that you were so happy to see going a step in the right direction, in your foreign mind. And once we get rid of all these things that define this country, what will we have? Another boring place to spend afternoons at the sports bar watching foreign rugby or football or western films on Netflix. So what are we doing here if we hate this rough around the edges culture so much?
   

    -@danfinn

Look out, public urination could be the next target.

I agree jeepneys are an icon and it has personality. And it is uniquely Filipino. The downside was pollution/noise of its diesel engines. These jeepneys were produced by two local companies, Sarao and Francisco motors. I was surprised the government is not supporting these two local manufacturers in making modifications to the iconic jeepneys. Instead they promoted imported vans over locally made vehicles. Individual owners gets pushed out due to rules in running passenger transport business. The little guys gets beaten again.

Look out, public urination could be the next target.        -@mugteck

This is the last straw.

Once they implement this restriction, I ain't goin' to Philipines no more.

Can't hold it.🤣

mugteck said. . . . Look out, public urination could be the next target.

*********************

Jeepney's could to be refitted with Porta Potties.
   

   

Funny, so much rhetoric here about the "extremes". While I despise the horribly slow and terrible driving habits of 90% of the jeepneys, I support their service and just trying to make a living. The more important issue that I feel the country needs to act on (and I fully support) is the smog from them. I don't think it's going out on a limb suggesting less than 5% could pass an annual smog check with real standards. The fact that on days when I go to Cebu and get stuck driving around a ton of them, I can taste the exhaust in my throat and my chest by the end of the day should not be acceptable.

The horribly slow no matter Jeepney, tricycle or a 3 wheeled EV. The system works though be it slow what's the hurry? The road users are also part of the culture here and trying to do away with Jeepney's? Imagine driving around here with none of them, a cultural part of the Philippines recognized world wide.

They can easily be repowered with fuel efficient turbo engines from many manufacturers and keeping jobs for those that need instead of offering from memory P30K to get rid of private operators trying to feed their families? Offer/give more to maintain a unique cultural icon.

We invested a few bob here to reduce our carbon footprint as well as the eventual savings with stand alone solar and more than successful to date but research has proved that an EV can be a seriously bad investment with no ROI. Hey OMO.

Cheers, Steve.

    Funny, so much rhetoric here about the "extremes". While I despise the horribly slow and terrible driving habits of 90% of the jeepneys, I support their service and just trying to make a living. The more important issue that I feel the country needs to act on (and I fully support) is the smog from them. I don't think it's going out on a limb suggesting less than 5% could pass an annual smog check with real standards. The fact that on days when I go to Cebu and get stuck driving around a ton of them, I can taste the exhaust in my throat and my chest by the end of the day should not be acceptable.
   

    -@Larry Fisherby

I actually did not realize that commercial jeepneys were exempt from the annual "smoke test" given during registration.  (sarcasm). Amongst other vehicles we have a Philippine-made multicable with the usual Suzuki 3-cylinder 12 valve engine. In fact, I doubt that they are exempt. Here, the smoke test is run by putting some sensor in the tailpipe and running so many RPM. I have had a vehicle fail; when that happens, they will make certain adjustments on the engine until it passes, and you pay the person something for doing that. The standards are OK, but implementation is difficult here. The alternative is not getting their registration and losing their means to make a living. I think that all of those jeepneys must get annual registrations and they all must pass smoke tests, one way or another.

There already are laws in place but as usual, we don't need new laws.

@danfinn

I probably should have been more clear. I mean "REAL" smog tests. Something with actual standards of reduced emissions.

    @danfinn
I probably should have been more clear. I mean "REAL" smog tests. Something with actual standards of reduced emissions.
   

    -@Larry Fisher

I believe the standards used in the tests are reasonable. As of 2016, PH increased using EURO standards. That Order sets an average CO emissions limit of 2.0 grams per kilometer (g/km) for gasoline – fed passenger and light – duty vehicles instead of 2.2 g/km , and 0.9 g/km for those using diesel instead of 1.0 g/km. It also provides that all new vehicles to be used or introduced into the Philippine market by January 2016 shall be equipped with Euro 4 engine and compliant with Euro 4 emission standards. What you are suggesting has already been implemented.

What about the scooters? Are the scooters zipping around the Philippines 2-strokes or 4-strokes? If 2-strokes, you are inhaling carbon monoxide. Albuterol inhaler anyone? I wonder if the government check for the scooters' emissions. I am pretty sure a majority of motorcycles are 2-stroke. Were the tricycles replaced too?

    What about the scooters? Are the scooters zipping around the Philippines 2-strokes or 4-strokes? If 2-strokes, you are inhaling carbon monoxide. Albuterol inhaler anyone? I wonder if the government check for the scooters' emissions. I am pretty sure a majority of motorcycles are 2-stroke. Were the tricycles replaced too?
   

    -@Jackson4

I am surprised you think that.I have never seen one person fill their scooter with a gas oil mixture here. Maybe 2 strokes are used for lawn trimmers but even mine are 4 stroke. Do you have 2 stroke motorbikes where you come from? Just curious. As for the CO, as long as you are outside you are ok but don't be in a garage with the door closed if a 2 or 4 stroke is running without ventilation.

See? You learn something new by asking questions.

I guess I never had a 2-stroke engine. In 2018 I bought my son a brand new motorcycle because he asked for it. Worst decision I've ever made. He did not drive it again after dropping it. I thought all motorcycles were 2-stroke because they seem very powerful.

@Jackson4

The only 2 stroke things I have seen here (as Dan mentioned) are brush cutters and chainsaws, we have both here, noisy and stinky, replaced the 2 stroke trimmer 3 years ago with a Honda 4 stroke like we had in Oz, much quieter.

As for 2 stroke bikes I've never seen here as they are generally for dirt riding etc.

We have a couple of bikes from new and after 1 year they need an emissions test for re registration, new cars get 3+ years before emissions test for re registration.

The Jeepney can easily be repowered with a 5 or 6 star turbo diesel engine if they want to keep the heritage of this country.

We had a Peugeot 508 wagon in Oz. 5 star 2 litre turbo that that was slightly quicker than our SL Mercedes and used a third of the fuel. The best thing was 1,400/1,500 klicks on a tank of diesel, average on the highway 3.5 to 4 litres per 100 klicks, say 60 MPG. The new ones I believe are Euro 6 rated.

I'm sure the fuel savings could warrant the upgrade for long term ROI.

Keep the nostalgia as aside from the pollution the system works.

OMO.

Cheers, Steve.

I would shed few tears if the really old diesel Jeepneys were gone - the ones that look like jeeps - although iconic, they are a very basic design and produce horrendous amounts of particulate smoke out the tailpipe when accelerating. Not to mention they are not exactly agile or safe. Going up Veterans Blvd in Cebu (steep) the smoke would obscure everything behind and sometimes there would be two or three of them in a row..  The newer Multicab and Isuzu Elf platforms seem much better to me, don't produce visible smoke, carry more people in less length, and are often even more tricked out. Certainly some of us have seen "Chicks Carrier" in Cebu, haha.

We lived in Cebu City from 2014 to 2020 and the smoke from those old war horses was really bad along the roads, and while we might think it's a quaint visceral thrill (I admit they are a super-torquey blast to ride in) -  the smoke and particulates are undoubtedly poisoning those (mostly poor) who live along the roadways.  Although we lived up in Busay, our son's Catholic school was near the intersection of Gorordo Ave and General Maxilom and his clothes always had soot on them, not to mention he developed a chronic cough after a few years, which was the final straw.

We moved out before he developed asthma, which many Filipinos suffer from. I wonder why.. they should either re-power them with clean diesels or take them off the road.

Yep, 7 floors up in our condo in Manila we had 2 balconies, eventually I learnt to keep the doors closed as the black oily grime was a weekly cleaning job of the whole place, the Jeepney's are priceless and simply need a repower with an efficient engine, perhaps an auto box as well. A unique character that they should try to retain.

Cheers, Steve.

I agree with you, Steve. Perhaps gov't could subsidize the re-power..

But, the newer platforms aren't so bad either.. from my 3rd trip in 2014, when I moved here - I thought that was the coolest thing I had ever seen plying the roads for public transport, haha, and still running that route:

    I would shed few tears if the really old diesel Jeepneys were gone - the ones that look like jeeps - although iconic, they are a very basic design and produce horrendous amounts of particulate smoke out the tailpipe when accelerating. Not to mention they are not exactly agile or safe. Going up Veterans Blvd in Cebu (steep) the smoke would obscure everything behind and sometimes there would be two or three of them in a row..  The newer Multicab and Isuzu Elf platforms seem much better to me, don't produce visible smoke, carry more people in less length, and are often even more tricked out. Certainly some of us have seen "Chicks Carrier" in Cebu, haha.
We lived in Cebu City from 2014 to 2020 and the smoke from those old war horses was really bad along the roads, and while we might think it's a quaint visceral thrill (I admit they are a super-torquey blast to ride in) -  the smoke and particulates are undoubtedly poisoning those (mostly poor) who live along the roadways.  Although we lived up in Busay, our son's Catholic school was near the intersection of Gorordo Ave and General Maxilom and his clothes always had soot on them, not to mention he developed a chronic cough after a few years, which was the final straw.

We moved out before he developed asthma, which many Filipinos suffer from. I wonder why.. they should either re-power them with clean diesels or take them off the road.
   

    -@pnwcyclist

As I read this, I first thought you were going to recommend EV jeepneys, but you turned out to be a normal person lol. What you said about clean diesel caught my attention and it seems that as long as they use a high-quality diesel like Petron, they will have EURO4 qualification, which is fairly clean, low in sulfur and lower in particulates. I am not sure if the government mandates all filling stations to supply only EURO4 but Petron certainly does. Do you believe the jeepney owner has a choice?

"PETRON DIESEL MAX EURO 4

PETRON DIESEL MAX is a low sulfur, premium product that contains a unique and robust multifunctional additive that contains smoke reducing agent and lubricity additive to protect fuel injection system. It also has the ability to maintain and improve fuel injection system cleanliness through unsurpassed detergency characteristics.

Petron Diesel Max provides a superior performance in low sulfur diesel technology as indicated by the following features:

Instantaneous and sustained reduction in smoke and particulates

Contains a lubricity enhancer that protects from engine wear

Improved fuel economy

Reduced emissions

Reduced nozzle fouling

Provides corrosion protection

Provides improved oxidation stability

Effective anti-foam performance"

That looks nice pnw.

but I prefer this.

Cheers, Steve.

Dan I have never seen the old Jeepneys not belching smoke and doubt that cleaner fuel would help.  The old diesel engines and injectors are just too simple of a design, so much of the fuel is unburned when they step on the gas, which they often do several times in a city block or on a hill.. And of course most don't have turbos. Also, failing to clean/replace air filter on a diesel can also cause them to run really rich.

The newer Elf and Multicab platforms (last 15 years or so) have much more efficient turbo diesels (from which I rarely see or smell pollution, although they may well emit high NOx, which contributes to smog in cities), and I'm sure the better fuel would help, although it is an extremely price-sensitive industry so doubtful the owner operator would opt for it unless there were a proven mileage improvement.

In the US, most of the personal diesel powered vehicles use that Adblu liquid additive to significantly reduce nitrous-oxides. I haven't seen that here yet but newer trucks may have it. Makes them really clean.

Closer look.

Cheers, Steve.

But the new ones look pretty cool also.

http://tinyurl.com/34cvdnxe

Cheers, Steve.

I agree - she's a beauty, Steve. Classic..

Not a flat top pnw. There are better and more efficient engines around but cost a lot more.

Cheers, Steve.

    Dan I have never seen the old Jeepneys not belching smoke and doubt that cleaner fuel would help.  The old diesel engines and injectors are just too simple of a design, so much of the fuel is unburned when they step on the gas, which they often do several times in a city block or on a hill.. And of course most don't have turbos. Also, failing to clean/replace air filter on a diesel can also cause them to run really rich.
The newer Elf and Multicab platforms (last 15 years or so) have much more efficient turbo diesels (from which I rarely see or smell pollution, although they may well emit high NOx, which contributes to smog in cities), and I'm sure the better fuel would help, although it is an extremely price-sensitive industry so doubtful the owner operator would opt for it unless there were a proven mileage improvement.

In the US, most of the personal diesel powered vehicles use that Adblu liquid additive to significantly reduce nitrous-oxides. I haven't seen that here yet but newer trucks may have it. Makes them really clean.
   

    -@pnwcyclist

As I discuss the situation I am afraid I will not stray very far from supporting traditional Filipino culture and what the Filipino's themselves support. I do not believe expats have any right, much less standing, to tell their host country that their jeepneys smell awful and you would like to see them off the road. You can either have faith in your adopted population that they will eventually change to your liking but if that means getting rid of loud karaoke, roosters that crow and dogs that bark...and jeepneys creating soot...then as the saying goes, love it leave it.  Nobody born here is inviting us to help "improve" their society and in fact, suggesting such changes might insult them and cause them to cite deficiencies in our own countries, of which we have many.

Who talked about getting read of karaoke, roosters or barking dogs? Or even the smell? Those things don't kill people. Diesel particulates do. They contain toxic compounds and embed themselves in the lungs and cause chronic lung disease and cancers. It harms those most who are most disadvantaged (poor) and uneducated.

My concern comes because the people often do not understand this. If they knew the risks or thought something could be done about it they probably would be more vocal, but of course there is a strong culture of learned powerlessness here, from decades (centuries?) of being exploited and government not solving problems for the people.

I am glad to see there is a governmental push now, to do something about this specific problem. And btw, I am not advocating for EV's  - I feel the solution could include a combination of things - clean diesel retrofits, propane or electric buses, more stringent testing (vs owner payoffs) or simply phasing out the older polluting jeeps while keeping the newer Elf and multicab models. I don't have a dog in this fight.

Interesting way to spell it out pnw. You hit the nail on the head, governments and the people that elect them, no need to say more.

Cheers, Steve.

    Who talked about getting read of karaoke,

-@pnwcyclist

         Saw the other day where it was suggested that late night karaoke institute a new method of sharing the songs.  It is called mime karaoke.

    Interesting way to spell it out pnw. You hit the nail on the head, governments and the people that elect them, no need to say more.
Cheers, Steve.
   

    -@bigpearl

Indeed and as far as I'm aware those congressman in high places breathe the same crap as the worker ants.

@pnwcyclist feel the solution could include a combination of  feel the solution could include a combination of things - clean diesel retrofits, propane or electric buses, more stringent testing (vs owner payoffs) or simply phasing out the older polluting jeeps while keeping the newer Elf and multicab models. I don't have a dog in this fight. - clean diesel retrofits, propane or electric buses, more stringent testing (vs owner payoffs) or simply phasing out the older polluting jeeps while keeping the newer Elf and multicab models. I don't have a dog in this fight.

I hate to keep saying this but I know you are here as a guest of the Philippine government and you definitely are recommending overarching changes that would phase out a cultural icon. Many foreigners resent the cultural icons here but we should just let citizens here decide for themselves what and if to change and when. If you don't like it, all you can do is vote with your feet and eventually they will learn why and then decide if they care. I agree, you have no dog in this fight, nor do you as a foreigner have standing. You are just a guest.

Fair enough Dan. You're correct, I always have the option to vote with my feet.

We are guests Dan but there are simple answers but the powers that be no matter country always jump the gun instead of listening/looking objectively.

Personally I can't imagine this country without the age old Jeepney, trying to phase them out is the wrong approach, simply repower with fuel efficient low emission diesel engines. The operators will instantly see the savings in fuel costs, more reliability and longevity.

If you have a tooth ache you don't do yourself in you fix the problem.

OMO.

Cheers, Steve. 

The operators will instantly see the savings in fuel costs, more reliability and longevity. If you have a tooth ache you don't do yourself in you fix the problem.OMO.Cheers, Steve.          -@bigpearl

Hello Steve, the jeepney owner-operators are probably living on a very low margin especially since the government must approve their rates and those officials also want to avoid any ire from a voting public and that keeps rates and profits low. As a brother-in-law funding and licensing a sister-in-law's one-time multicab transport business in Siquijor, I know all too well it is low margin. 5 pesos per ride at the time lol but it did give them something to do and earn a small profit. If the return on investment were very high, a few owners would have already done it and then word would have gotten around and many others would have found a way to borrow the money and finance the change to whatever clean diesel engine, EURO4 (5 or 6, I know nothing about the availability of engines above EURO 4). In the scheme of things, a toothache can be resolved with the resources of a poor man but a change to a new or rebuilt jeepney diesel engine 'may' well be beyond their means (not sure). Actually, at one time I did briefly look at replacing a Honda civic car engine and to do that was not that expensive here because of the Japanese surplus market. Plus, that car is old and EURO2 level. Unless cheap clean diesel engines are readily available on that market, these owner operators most likely could not afford to change UNLESS they had government subsidies If they are available, a mass switchover to EURO4 could be possible. Officials might jump at the prospect of a government funding plan, but the amount of funds actually used to fund engine switchovers in that case would be another issue I believe (said I, cynically). Another possibility is to double the approved fare structure to pay for the switch; in other words, screw the poor to make the lives of rich foreigners more breathable...sorry, that wasn't fair ha-ha.