The Philippine jeepney, the iconic symbol of Filipino ingenuity, has managed to stay on the road after reinventing itself as the LalaJeep of the Lalamove delivery business.
The jeepney, touted as “King of the Road” for being the most popular transport on Philippine roads and must-try tourist ride for foreign celebrities, was disallowed following the suspension of public transportation amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The jeepney continues to be banned even as the government on Monday, June 22, 2020, opened Metro Manila routes for over 300 buses referred to as “modern-day jeepneys”.
Enter, the traditional jeepney champions from the Quezon City Small Business and Cooperatives Development Promotions Office who had initiated a partnership with Lalamove to hire displaced jeepney drivers for deliveries in Quezon City.
Both the QC office and Lalamove social media announced the LalaJeep program on June 15.
Lalamove has listed the LalaJeep among its delivery options for freight with the following specifications:
LalaJeep
Weight Limit: 600 kg
Size Limit (L×W×H): 7 x 4 x 3.5 ft
Price: Base fare ₱200 + ₱25/km
Additional Stop: ₱50
The LalaJeep can be hired using the Lalamove app on Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
The Philippine jeepney, a repurposed U.S. army jeep created by the Sarao family of Cavite and Las Pinas, has been used to represent Pinoy culture around the world, including on the U.S. baseball team Oakland Athletics designer shirt, as Japan’s Tamiya’s 1st ever Jeepney model kit, and on Hollywood films.
The modernization of Philippine jeepney has been in the works with sectors pleading for the retention of the iconic look of the jeepney.
Permaculture entrepreneur Larry Gile had also showcased the iconic Philippine public transport as the repurposed Planter Jeepney that hosts biodiversity.
The open-air jeepneys are also seen as safer rides against COVID-19 than the enclosed modernized counterparts.
SEND CHEERS in the comments below to the groups behind the LalaJeep project for keeping the iconic Philippine jeepney on the road.
Want to know how to be a Proud Pinoy? Like, Follow, Subscribe to GoodNewsPilipinas.com, and our socials Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Good News Pilipinas! TV on YouTube, for new story notifications, and e-mail newsletters for updates on more Filipino Pride stories.
