Transport in Manila

Bus


Around Manila, city buses only display their final destination on the sign board, in the front, which can be a large complex like the NAIA, a street name like Ayala (for Ayala Ave in Makati) or a whole suburb like Quiapo (north of Pasig River). The fare is 75 centavos for the first four km and 25 centavos for every km after that. At the end of Rizal Ave Extension there is a statue of Andres Bonifacio, known as the Monumento, a very popular destination and stop for jeepneys and buses. The air-con Love Buses are very popular in Manila. They are blue with red hearts. They operate on several main routes and charge a flat rate of P 8.50. Have small change at hand as bus drivers usually cannot change large notes. The Escolta-Ayala/Medical Centre bus is a useful one for tourists. The Love Bus goes from the Calle Escolta (Binondo/Santa Cruz) through Ermita (M H del Pilar St) to Makati (the embassies) and the Makati Commercial Centre. It returns through Mabini St. in Ermita. There are no fixed stops on the way. One must not throw the ticket away, as there are frequent inspections.



Train


The Metro Rail LRT (Light Rail Transit) is an overhead railway which runs on concrete pylons several metres high, linking the suburbs of Caloocan City and Pasay City. The line runs from North Terminal (Monumento) in Caloocan City, over Rizal Ave to Central Terminal near the Manila City Hall and on over Taft Ave to South Terminal in Baclaran, Pasay City. The fare is a flat rate of P 3.50, irrespective of the number of stations you travel to. Instead of tickets, one has to buy tokens that open the barriers to the platforms. Smoking, eating and drinking are all forbidden both on the platforms and in the trains. Bulky objects which may cause obstruction is not allowed.


The Metro Rail LRT (Light Rail Transit) is an overhead railway which runs on concrete pylons several metres high, linking the suburbs of Caloocan City and Pasay City. The line runs from North Terminal (Monumento) in Caloocan City, over Rizal Ave to Central Terminal near the Manila City Hall and on over Taft Ave to South Terminal in Baclaran, Pasay City. The fare is a flat rate of P 3.50, irrespective of the number of stations you travel to. Instead of tickets, one has to buy tokens that open the barriers to the platforms. Smoking, eating and drinking are all forbidden both on the platforms and in the trains. Bulky objects which may cause obstruction is not allowed.


Taxi


One must always have some change ready when boarding a taxi in Manila, as there's no guarantee that the driver will have any. The flag-down charge is P 2.50 after which it is P 1 for the first 500 metres and PI for each subsequent 250 metres.


Jeepney


One needs to get to know Manila a bit before one can travel through the city by jeepney without problems. Crowding and the limited view make it hard to see where you are going, so a seat by the driver is desirable. Jeepney routes are fixed. Their main streets and stops are shown on the side of the vehicle and mostly on the windscreen as well. For example, jeepneys with the sign Baclaran, Harrison, Santa Cruz, Rizal, Monumento will go from Baclaran in Pasay City through Harrison St. to Harrison Plaza, then down Mabini St, back down M H del Pilar St—both one-way streets—past the City Hall (Lawton), to the suburb of Santa Cruz, then down Rizal Ave and Rizal Ave Extension to Monumento in Caloocan City.


Jeepneys on the north-south route are almost always marked Baclaran or Libertad to show the southern end of their route, both in Pasay City. The northern end could be Monumento (Caloocan City, at the end of the Rizal Ave Extension); Blumentritt (a street in northern Santa Cruz, by the Chinese Hospital and near the Chinese Cemetery); or Divisoria (the Divisoria Market in the suburb of San Nicolas). Jeepneys in Ermita run along M H del Pilar St and Mabini St (those marked Harrison) or Taft Ave (those marked Taft). Jeepneys whose north-eastern destination is shown as 'Project 2', 'Project 3' or 'Project 4' are going to Cubao, while those marked 'Project 6' and 'Project 8' are heading for Quezon City. The fare is 75 centavos for the first four km; most charge P 1.


Self Driving


Traffic in Manila is chaotic and noisy, especially to someone who is used to fairly strict traffic control. There are few bus stops and these are not always used. Buses and jeepneys stop wherever they see a fare to pick up and then taxis of various companies try to get in ahead of them. Horns and hand signals are used most often, brake lights and blinkers rarely, and traffic-lane markings seem to be thought a waste of paints. However, the Filipinos are used to these conditions and there are few accidents— the battered vehicles usually last longer than their appearance would lead you to believe. If one wants a cheap and pleasant form of inner-city public transport, try the Metro rail.


Tours


For a quick and cheap overview of Manila one can organise something for oneself.

One can travel in the air-con Love Buses going in all possible directions within the city; from M H del Pilar Street in Ermita, past Ayala Museum to the Makati Commercial Centre termenies. There is another Love Bus from the Commercial Centre to Cubao in Quezon City. From the Araneta Centre inCubao one can take another Love Bus upto Quiapo Church, past numerous ministries and offices.There is yet another suggested tour: using a variety of public transport to go through Tondo, Binodo and Chinatown.