Driving in the Philippines

Driving in The Philippines

The first time I was at the main immigration office in Manila I was advised not to drive in the Philippines. The man told me "driving here is very different than driving in the USA."

Well, I took his advise and did not drive during my first 3 years in the Philippines. I, in fact, actually enjoyed not driving. Taxis were not expensive and I liked being driven around in air conditioned luxury. But, there are many times that a taxi is not readily available. So, the mode of transport choices then are to ride a bus a tricycle or a jeepney. Seems that the most frequent and the cheapest mode of travel is a jeepney. There are very few air conditioned jeepneys in the Philippines. Most have open air rear passenger compartments. There is usually roll down clear plastic sheeting to put down in event of rain. If rain is coming in, the driver will stop and lower the plastic coverings.

When one is staying a long time in country it seems more feasible to travel like the locals. And, most of the locals ride in jeepneys.

Buses cost a little more but usually take longer to reach one's destination because they stop for longer periods of time at their bus stops in order to take on the most passengers possible. Jeepneys seat only about 20 passengers so they tend to fill up faster. Advantages of buses are that one sits higher and thus above the thickest vehicle pollution. But, bus routes are usually only on the most heavily trafficked roadways. Jeepneys can be found on almost all roads. In Metro Manila there are more buses. Between provinces buses usually only ply the major highways linking the provinces.

I talked with a doctor who has clinics in Manila. She told me that she and her husband drove one time from Manila to Baguio. They drove the same road the buses use. When they got to the mountainous part of the trip they had to slow down. She was quite scared because they could barely see the road due to the heavy fog on the way to Baguio. It took them a very long time to travel the "snake road" (called that due to the many curves on the route up through the mountains).
Land around the Metro Manila area is mostly flat.

If you are a foreigner it will be much easier and faster to take a taxi to wherever you want to go. Taxi drivers know the shortcuts. There have been many times, while we were in taxis, that the drivers took routes that we never would have thought of.

A restored 1986 Mitsubishi Lancer

Well, we finally decided on buying a car in the Philippines. We bought an old Mitsubishi Lancer with a stick shift and no air conditioner for 40,000 pesos (or about $950 US). Not shiny and in much worse condition than the one pictured above.

Want to sell a car? Find out about advertising at this site.

Here is my description of a typical trip while driving our car:
By now it was almost 5:30 pm so we headed home from the Diosado Macapagal Intl. Airport at Clark Freeport Zone, near Angeles City.
We like to get home before dark. One reason is because there are so many cars whose headlights are not aimed correctly (about 1 in 10) and blind us as we are driving at night. Making it necessary to slow to a crawl in order to avoid hitting a pedestrian, motorcycle or carabao which may cross the street. It is about 8 kilometers (or 5 miles) back to our apartment in a rural area.

After leaving the airport we pass SM Clark Mall then turn left onto MacArthur Highway, in the Balibago area. It is always congested with cars, trucks, jeepneys, buses, "tricycles and pedicabs and jeepneys, buses, "tricycles" and pedicabs. pedestrians who cross anywhere and anytime. Those wanting to cross the 6 lanes just hold up a palm of a hand as a stop sign and walk in front of moving vehicles. Traffic usually moves at a crawl on the way to the bus station. But as a driver in the Philippines you must constantly be on the alert for the unexpected.

Mabalacat Bus Terminal (also called the Dau Bus Terminal).

We reached the road that leads past the Mabalacat Bus Terminal (also referred to as the Dau Bus Terminal) and turned right. Traffic here is thick with cars, trucks, buses, and many pedestrians crossing to and from the terminal and roadside vendors. This road leads to the entrance to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). At the toll booths we took a toll ticket from the automatic machine and proceeded to drive to our exit just a short distance away. Stopped and paid the 19 pesos (about 40 cents US) and exited the NLEX. Then it was our turn to enter the "rotunda" (a circular roundabout). This rotunda is near the Angeles City Marquee Mall. Five streets enter it. No traffic lights. Drivers usually try their best not to let another car to get in front of them. But there are some who are courteous and will let one enter the roundabout. Often, though, one must just "inch in" in front of vehicles.

Then we exited the roundabout onto the two lane road leading home. At rush hour, morning and night the traffic there is horrendous. For the next kilometer or two traffic barely moves. We have a stick shift car and it is on and off the clutch a hundred times before we are finally out of the heaviest traffic. If we leave any space between our car and the next one a motorcycle or a tricycle will cut in front of us. Often it is 2, 3, 4 or more motorcycles and tricycles that will take advantage of any slight opportunity to cut in front of a car. Which of course, means it will take us longer to get home. But, we need to be very cautious not to injure anyone. Everyday there are drivers who pass on the right as though it is legal (which it is not). To say nothing of the drivers of cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles and tricycles who will "double pass". Many times while we are passing a vehicle another vehicle will pass us! We have even seen vehicles "double passing" on curves.

At night, after dark, there are always bicycles, motorcycles, tricycles, and even jeepneys driving with no lights on the road from the rotunda to our apartment. Pedestrians, dressed in dark clothes, cross the road in front of moving traffic. One time we barely saw a shadow, then realized there was a black Carabao (bull) being led across a desolate stretch of the road. Therefore we try not to drive at night.

We lived in the Metro Manila area for a couple of years. The traffic there is so much more orderly and one can get from place to place with hardly any hastle (except at rush hour). Having said that, I must admit, the traffic there is much denser than almost anyplace in the Tampa Bay area, where I live in the USA.

Finally, at 6:30 pm, after about an hour (to go about 5 or so miles) we arrive at our apartment. Phew, that was another nerve-racking trip.

Sign pointing to the North Luzon Expressway  (NLEX) which goes from Quezon City to points North including San Fernando, Angeles City, Tarlac and Baguio.

There is a toll road "super" highway between Manila and Angeles City, the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). It continues on North past Angeles and then meets up with the highway to Baguio. The posted speed limit between Manila and Angeles City is 80 kilometers per hour (or about 49 miles per hour). The super highway is very well maintained and resembles US interstate highways. I have seen very few smoke belching vehicles on this highway. There are large rest areas similar to rest areas on interstate highways in the US. One may eat at any of a number of fast food restaurants, buy gas for the car, rest, etc.

Mt. Arayat as seen to the East from the super highway (the NLEX).

Typical trip while we were driving in the Philippines

The cause of a traffic jam. We had driven very slowly in a long line of traffic on the way to the mall in Angeles City. We were driving from Magalang (a rural town) where we lived, to Marquee Mall.

A slow moving Carabao cart. A guy on a motorcycle passing us on the right side. As the travel section of the US Department of State web site notes, Due to lax traffic regulation enforcement many Filipino drivers are downright reckless. In my experience, I would say that most, not all, are undisciplined. I am sure they save time and gasoline money by arriving at their destination faster than we do. If they were to drive in the US like they do here they would be paying a lot of traffic fines. Read what the US State Department has to say about traffic safety and road conditions.

They seem to driving recklessly but they must be expert at it because I have seldom seen a really bad accident. Have seen only a few minor fender benders.

On the last portion of the drive from Magalang to Marquee Mall jeepneys on the right side, small shops on the left, the toll booths at the NLEX near the mall and the walkover bridge from the mall to the bus station and jeepney terminal across the street. Many, many people ride jeepneys to and from the mall.

I removed the door panels from our car so that new vinyl covers could be put on them. See my post about auto restoration in the Philippines. If you are thinking about renting a vehicle in the Philippines consider this; as far as I have found there is no insurance available to cover you in the event the vehicle gets damaged while you are renting it. You will pay for any and all damages. There is a site that offers international car insurance, maybe you can buy some for your car, if you buy one, in the Philippines.

A problem about driving as a foreigner in the Philippines is that you may be seen by some as a target. You are perceived as being "rich" here. Pedestrians and other drivers may see you as an opportunity to make money. If you are involved in an "accident" it is very possible that you will end up paying much more than would a Filipino. Many foreigners hire a driver or, if married, will let their Filipino spouse drive.

Another solution is to ride in taxis, jeepneys, buses, "tricycles" or pedicabs.
But in jeepneys, "tricycles" and pedicabs you will be subject to more air pollution from "smoke belching" vehicles.

Update Feb. 6, 2024, Metro Manila Traffic:

‘Not a czar’: Pinoys give suggestions to resolve Metro Manila traffic woes.

MSN Story by Jeline Malasig •

"Last month, TomTom noted in its 2023 Traffic Index that Metro Manila was the worst place in the world to experience metro traffic.

The TomTom Traffic Index assesses the traffic conditions in metropolitan areas across the globe, analyzing factors like road infrastructure, speed limits and vehicle flow.

The traffic index said that Metro Manila drivers spent an average of 25 minutes and 30 seconds just to travel 10 kilometers in 2023. This is the slowest, compared to 387 areas mentioned in the study.

The data translates to 117 hours lost in traffic last year for those in the NCR, a time equivalent to almost five days.

TomTom said that the worst day and time to travel in Metro Manila is Friday, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. It added that a 10-kilometer drive took an average of 35 minutes and 30 seconds."

Cheapest cars to maintain in the Philippines. 

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This post will be expanded. Check back for more information about driving in the Philippines. Last updated February 6, 2024.