In Pictures

In Pictures: Philippines’ iconic jeepneys pushed off the road

Coronavirus-related restrictions made many of the drivers jobless and forced to beg on the streets to survive.

A woman wears a protective mask as she rides a passenger jeepney in Manila, Philippines on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as — The tight government-imposed lockdown sidelined Manila's "king of the road" and thousands of drivers.[Aaron Favila/AP Photo]

The Philippines’ iconic passenger jeepney was one of the first casualties of the coronavirus outbreak, with the government imposing a tight lockdown that sidelined Manila’s “king of the road” and thousands of drivers.

The restrictions, imposed three months ago, barred most public transport, forcing the jeepneys off the road.

Many of the jobless drivers have resorted to begging in the streets, displaying cardboard signs asking for money and food on their jeepneys.

In a once-bustling passenger terminal in suburban Quezon city’s Tandang Sora village, about 35 drivers have turned their jeepneys into tiny shelters.

They squeezed in cooking stoves, a few spare clothes, mobile phone chargers, and electric fans to fight off the tropical heat and mosquitoes in the cramped passenger compartment where they now live and sleep.

“We have no income now. We have nothing for our children,” said Jude Recio, a distraught driver with three children. “I hope we’ll be allowed to drive again.”

Well before the outbreak began, jeepneys had already been threatened by a government programme to modernise public transport and phase out ageing vehicles.

The diesel-powered jeepneys popular among the working class cough out dark fumes which have been blamed for Manila’s notoriously polluted air.

The jeepneys evolved from US military jeeps left behind by American forces after World War II.

The vehicles were modified and reproduced, many based on second-hand truck chassis. For decades, they were the most popular form of land transport and a showcase of Philippine culture on wheels.

The government eased the lockdown this month to reopen the slumping economy, allowing newer passenger vehicles to return to the road under strict quarantine regulations. But the traditional jeepneys remain sidelined.

A jeepney driver drinks coffee beside his vehicle at the Tandang Sora terminal which have been home for them since a lockdown started three months ago, on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 in Quezon city, Phil — A driver drinks coffee beside his jeepney at the Tandang Sora terminal. [Aaron Favila/AP Photo]

Seven-year-old Yuna Recio comes down from their passenger jeepney at the Tandang Sora terminal which have been home for her family during a lockdown, on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 in Quezon city, Philip — The Philippines' iconic passenger jeepney was one of the first casualties of the country's coronavirus outbreak. [Aaron Favila/AP Photo]

The Recio family sleeps inside their passenger jeepney at a terminal which have been home for them on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 in Quezon city, Philippines. About 35 jeepney drivers were forced to stay — The Recio family sleeps inside its jeepney at the terminal in Quezon city. [Aaron Favila/AP Photo]

Driver Michael Navarra cooks fish and vegetables on their portable stove inside a jeepney at the Tandang Sora terminal which have been home for them since the lockdown started three months ago, on Wed — Driver Michael Navarra cooks fish and vegetables on a portable stove inside the jeepney. [Aaron Favila/AP Photo]

Jeepney driver Rey Escanilla, left, sits with another driver at their coffee station in the Tandang Sora terminal which have been home for them since a lockdown started three months ago, on Wednesday, — The restrictions imposed three months ago barred most public transport, forcing the gaudily decorated jeepneys off the road. [Aaron Favila/AP Photo]

Driver Jude Recio walks past jeepneys parked at the Tandang Sora terminal which have been home for them since a lockdown started three months ago, on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 in Quezon city, Philippin — "We have no income now. We have nothing for our children," said Jude Recio, a distraught driver with three children. "I hope we'll be allowed to drive again." [Aaron Favila/AP Photo]

Jeepney drivers beg for money beside a sign that says "a little help please for the drivers, thank you" in front of the Tandang Sora terminal which have been home for them since a lockdown started thr — Jeepney drivers beg for money with a sign that says: "a little help please for the drivers, thank you" in front of the Tandang Sora terminal. [Aaron Favila/AP Photo]

Driver Arthur Vinluan, 62, sits on a passenger jeepney beside a sign that says "sorry we''re not yet in operation" at the Tandang Sora terminal which have been home for them since a lockdown started th — Driver Arthur Vinluan, 62, sits on a jeepney beside a sign that reads: "Sorry, we're not yet in operation." [Aaron Favila/AP Photo]

Driver Rey Escanilla, left, sits beside parked jeepneys at the Tandang Sora terminal which have been home for them since a lockdown started three months ago, on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 in Quezon city — Well before the outbreak began, jeepneys were already threatened by a government programme to modernise public transport and phase out ageing vehicles. [Aaron Favila/AP Photo]

A jeepney driver carries relief goods donated by a Catholic church at the Tandang Sora terminal which have been home for them since a lockdown started three months ago, on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 in — A jeepney driver carries relief goods donated by a church. The drivers have started sprucing up their jeepneys, hoping they can go back onto the streets soon. [Aaron Favila/AP Photo]