The Cebu jeepney will be allowed to traverse the roads of Cebu City in a few months.
Jeepneys are still at the top when it comes to the mode of transportation in the Philippines. If you travel here, you might have seen them everywhere. The Cebu City government has approved the return of these vehicles after a short hiatus due to quarantine protocols. Throughout that time, you might have forgotten how to ride a Cebu jeepney. So here are the things to remember.
According to the latest news in Cebu province, only 1,355 jeepneys will be allowed to plow through the streets, so don’t expect the same volume of PUJs as when we were living our normal lives. These jeepneys are expected to complete the requirements before being allowed to operate. Drivers are required to submit records to show that they tested negative with the virus. Barriers will also be installed so that passengers can observe social distancing. Face masks and face shields are also a requirement to get inside.
The pandemic has changed a lot in our surroundings, so this is expected as we all try to live our lives amidst these trying times. That being said, here is your commuter guide for the most popular mode of transportation in the Philippines:
The Cebu jeepney has a number and letter combination to differentiate routes. Some jeeps only have numbers, though.
1. Know your Cebu jeepney routes.
In Cebu City, there are codes that are specifically assigned to a specific route. It would be advantageous if you can familiarize yourself with the many routes to traverse the city. Some places only have one route that allows you to get there, but most of the time, you have many options to go to your favorite hangout spots.
Cebu Jeepney codes consist of a two digit number and letter combination that coincide with the areas that the jeepneys will be passing through. The numbers can also indicate the main barangay that it passes through, so knowing the barangays near the place you are staying in can help a lot.
For example, if you are staying in Barangay Lahug, you will see many jeepneys starting with 04. The combination 04C is the route if you want to go to the Carbon Public Market, and 04L is the route for SM City Cebu and Ayala Center Cebu.
You wouldn’t want to be lost around Cebu, especially if you are a tourist. So aside from being in the know with the latest Cebu transportation update, try to familiarize yourself with the jeepney routes that you can see around the place you are living in as well so that you know what to ride if you want to roam around the city. Remember the areas that these jeepneys will pass through because some routes tend to take shortcuts.
You will know where to go when in Cebu if you remember these routes. For a more thorough explanation of the different routes, there are several lists online that will specify the areas the jeepneys pass by.
2. Be respectful to everyone in the jeepney.
When you’re going to ride a Cebu jeepney, you are going to sit next to several people, so you should be careful not to make their experience a living hell. Do your best to make sure that the person next to you is comfortable enough when they sit down.
This is still the most popular mode of transportation in Cebu, so expect that during rush hour, the vehicle will be filled with passengers. It would be best for you to bring a lighter bag so as not to disturb the people going in and out of the jeepney. When the jeep is full, fill up the space after someone gets off to give the rest of the passengers some more legroom.
If you want to listen to music, it is better to use earphones so as not to disturb other people inside the jeep. Maybe the person next to you just wants to relax and have some alone time, and maybe boosting up the volume on your favorite playlists might annoy them.
At the same time, do your best not to sleep inside the jeepney. You don’t want to be the guy that leans his head on a perfect stranger. If you have long hair, make sure to keep it tied. The person next to you wouldn’t want your hair all over their face.
You must also respect the driver and his assistant (also known as konduktor) when you ride a Cebu jeepney. Make sure you pay the right fare. It would also help if you bring change with you since taking the jeepney doesn’t really cost much, and it’s most likely that the driver won’t have change for large bills.
3. Be careful with your surroundings.
Due to the jeepney’s price, there are so many people that will prefer to ride one when getting around Cebu. This means that you should be extremely vigilant when you get in one since you’ll never know who you’ll be riding with.
When bringing a bag, keep an eye on it by holding it in front of you. Make sure that your valuable items like your wallet and phone are in a secure place. It is also better to keep your expensive jewelry at home because someone might snatch them from outside of the jeepney.
There is a bar found on the ceiling of the jeepney. You can use that to be more secure when the jeepney cruises down the street. This would really help when the driver makes a sudden stop, as it helps you stay in place.
If you want to go to famous places in Cebu, such as the different malls and historical landmarks, a jeepney is a good option to get there. Due to its historical and cultural significance, getting in a jeepney is also one of the most common things to do in Cebu.
For the past few months, Cebuanos have only seen buses and modern jeepneys roam the streets. The once dominant force of the Cebu jeepney was forced to hold back because of its possibility of spreading the virus. As Cebu City begins to rise again, along with its many rules and regulations, the king of the streets is finally back. Remember these tips and you’ll fit in as a Cebuano commuter.
Jeepneys can be seen roaming the streets in provincial areas of Cebu.
