World City Guide

Getting Around

Public Transport
Manila’s public transport system is a supplement to its extensive and indeed, chaotic and proliferating private transport operations and, such as it is, is administered by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), EDSA corner of Orense Street, Guadalupe Makati (tel: (02) 882 4151/77; website: www.mmda.gov.ph). There is no unified transport pass nor roving ticket schemes – the situation is far more like a free-for-all.

The elevated Mass Rail Transit (MRT) or Metrorail, is under development and has four lines open so far. The Light Rail Transit (LRT), completed in 1985, operates 0430-2245 from Baclaran to Monumento, along Taft Avenue in the south and Rizal Avenue in the north, encompassing a total of 16 stations. The MRT3 line, or Metrostar runs 0600-2130 from EDSA/Taft Avenue in the south to North station in the north. The LRT uses magnetic-strip swipe cards for tickets, which are available for purchase at ticket booths in the stations. LRT tickets are divided into single-journey tickets for single trips, valid only on the day of purchase, or stored value tickets, intended for multiple trips, depending on the value stored in the ticket, and valid for six months from the date of purchase. Pickpockets are a risk at peak hours and caution is advised.

Manila is served by a plethora of large and small private bus companies. As a consequence, there are no uniform bus passes. Chief operators include DMTC (tel: (02) 373 2981) and JD Transit (tel: (02) 911 0161). Local buses are useful for major roads, such as the EDSA, but are not allowed into most streets in the centre of town. Cost varies depending on destination and whether the bus is air-conditioned – tickets are available from kiosks, stations and some shops. The buses run from around 0500 until 2330 every day.

Taxis
Taxis, including the larger FX taxis that can carry between seven and ten people, can be flagged down from anywhere in the city. There are no taxi ranks except at the airport. Passengers should beware of being overcharged and should only travel if the driver uses the meter. Reputable and trustworthy fleets include EMP (white taxis with yellow stripes) and R&E (yellow taxis with green stripes). Avis Taxi (tel: (02) 532 5758 or 844 4884) is a reputable radio-cab company. Tipping is discretionary and usually handled by rounding up the fare to the nearest P10.

Jeepneys
Jeepneys run 24 hours a day and travel everywhere in the city. They are brightly coloured jeeps often outfitted with tassels, decorative horns and mirrors. The Philippine psyche on wheels, they are garish, chaotic, exuberant and decidedly insecure – a ride on one is a must as an educational experience, if not as a way of getting quickly and safely from A to B. The inexpensive jeepneys transport about one-third of the city’s commuter traffic. The destination is displayed in the window or down the side of the vehicle and they can be hailed anywhere.

Driving in the City
Driving conditions in Manila are notorious, with heavy congestion and smog. Drivers in the Philippines are frequently aggressive and often disregard traffic regulations, especially regarding lane discipline, one-way streets and giving way to other drivers. They use their horns all the time.

Parking is as much of a scramble as driving is and visitors are advised to park at their hotels, although facilities are available at large shopping malls and major commercial districts, such as Makati and Ortigas. In order to reduce pollution, a congestion scheme banning cars from the capital is in effect 0700-1900 – those with number plates ending in 1 or 2 on Mondays, 3 or 4 on Tuesdays and so on, with 9 or 0 banned on Fridays.

Driving is not recommended for visitors, seeing as the risks are too high and jeepneys offer a far cheaper more characterful way of getting around, with drivers who are able to actually navigate the traffic madness.

Car Hire
Avis (tel: (02) 742 2871; website: www.avis.com), Budget (tel: (02) 816 6682; website: www.budget.com) and Hertz (tel: (02) 897 5151; website: www.hertz.com) are the most reliable providers. The minimum age limit is 25 years for these major chains, although many local companies will not insist on this. The only required documentation is a valid international licence. Agencies should also furnish drivers with photocopies of the car registration papers and tax receipts.

Local providers, such as JB Rent-A-Car (tel: (02) 526 6288) or KEI Transport (tel: (02) 524 6834), offer cheaper rates. Cash payment requires a deposit, usually around 150% of the estimated hire fee.

Bicycle & Scooter Hire
Bicycles and scooters are available for hire in the Philippines but due to the high risk of accidents, their use is not recommended.