R.A. 11697: Electric jeepneys must preserve artistic design of traditional jeepneys

Much like Thailand's three-wheeled "tuk-tuk," the jeepney has become an enduring symbol of the Philippines.

No other country in the world has anything like it. Its bright colors and flashy chrome ornaments truly make it stand out, which is why many call it the country's "king of the road."

And as the electric vehicle (EV) age rolls in, the government is keen to preserve the jeepney's cultural heritage through Republic Act 11697 or the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act.

Section 9 of the measure, which lapsed into law on Apr. 15, 2022, mandates the Department of Transportation to coordinate with the National Commission for Culture and the Arts "on the preservation of the artistic design of traditional jeepneys for EVs intended for use for public transportation."

The law's implementing rules and regulations, which came into effect on Sept. 20, 2022, added that the design must not affect the vehicle's roadworthiness and will be limited to color schemes, logos, fonts, and stickers on the outer panels.

Post-war roots

The late Emmanual Torres, an art critic, poet, and the founding curator of the Ateneo Art Gallery, wrote in his 1979 book Jeepney that the jeepney emerged from the surplus of U.S. military Willys jeeps in the Philippines following the end of the Second World War.

"The jeepney was born in the greasy dirt yards and garages of scores of small welding works and auto-repair shops in post-Liberation Manila and nearby towns in the mid-1940s," he said.

Its name is a combination of the words "jeep" and "jitney." The latter, Torres said, was a form of pre-war public transport similar to a minibus.

Aside from extensive changes to the drivetrain, body, and seats of the military jeeps, the jeepney also became renowned for its dazzling paintwork and shiny ornaments.

Torres said the emphasis on making the jeepney look spectacular was so drivers could attract more passengers. He added that there were several design influences, ranging from horses of the Spanish-era "calesas" to wings and feathers of the cockfighting scene.

Switch to fully electric public transport

The move to preserve the jeepney's artistic heritage comes amid the government's move to roll out more EVs and EV infrastructure.

Section 16 of R.A. 11697 requires industrial and commercial companies, public transport operators, and government agencies to have a fleet with at least five percent EVs in a timeline set by the Comprehensive Roadmap for the Electric Vehicle Industry.

This will eventually increase until the fleets of the covered sectors are fully electric.

The law also provides fast-tracked franchise transactions by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for public transport EVs, along with a provision for financial assistance to purchase EVs.