Saving King of the Road

From commuting to work, going to school, to meeting loved ones or doing sweet travel with family; from the transition of the US colonial era to formal independence of The Philippines, the Mercedes-Benz Jeepney - a diesel-powered bus that was evolved from American military jeeps and often referred to as "King of the Road" - has been an inalienable part of the Southeast Asian Country as it showcases the features, cultures, spirits and history of Filipinos. But a transport modernisation programme introduced by the Philippines government is putting the decades-old vehicles on the edge of disappearance, as it aims to replace them with ones that have enhanced safety features and better emission standard scheme. ​ The move has sparked fear and anxiety across the country, prompting tens of thousands of Jeepney drivers to strike and citizens to protest against the modernisation scheme. The reasons are simple: Drivers are still paying debts for their existing Jeepneys, they will not be able to afford to buy the new ones, and many living under the poverty line use them as homes - the only shelters they have to stay after work. ​ Typically, Jeepney drivers spend more than 14 hours across towns and cities to take on and drop off passengers, providing affordable and convenient public transport services for literally each and everyone. This has been engraved in the history of the country, shaping the lives of different generations of Filipinos.