With classes now reopened, commuters in Cebu are once again facing the daily ordeal of overcrowded public rides. Buses and jeepneys, especially during rush hours from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., are packed like “overstuffed matchboxes,” making travel uncomfortable and stressful.
Anti-sardinas policy and its limitations
The government is aware of the suffering. Transportation agencies have enforced the so-called anti-sardinas policy, which aims to prevent overloading by penalizing vehicles that exceed passenger capacity. However, the lack of public utility vehicles (PUVs) is so severe that passengers willingly stand throughout their trips just to reach their destinations quickly. The root cause, according to observers, is the absence of an efficient high-capacity mass transport system—something the Cebu City Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) originally aimed to provide but fell short of due to politically motivated interventions under the previous administration.
Recalibrating the Public Transport Modernization Program
Transport planners are now recalibrating the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) with two key goals: road decongestion and increased passenger capacity of PUVs. A central focus is the multicab, locally known as the Filcab—a mini-jeepney introduced in the late 1980s as an alternative to tricycles. Planners expected Filcabs, with their smaller size and lower cost, to outcompete tricycles and reduce congestion. Instead, both Filcabs and tricycles coexisted, and their sheer numbers worsened road congestion. Many Filcabs also took over long-distance routes originally served by regular jeepneys.
Proposed replacement: one MPUJ for two Filcabs
To address this, planners are considering substituting Filcabs with larger Modern Public Utility Jeepneys (MPUJs). The key proposal is a replacement ratio of one MPUJ for at least two Filcabs. A single MPUJ can seat 24 passengers, compared to a Filcab’s 14, and is allowed to carry a few standing passengers, effectively more than doubling the seating capacity per unit. This would reduce the number of vehicles on the road without sacrificing passenger capacity.
Feasibility and potential benefits
The measure is still in the planning stage, but prospects are bright. Instead of widening roads—which is costly due to right-of-way acquisition and expropriation delays—reducing vehicle numbers while maintaining passenger seats offers a more practical solution. Transport planners hope that such sound, resource-efficient ideas can ease both overloading and road congestion in Cebu.
