This isn’t news to anyone who lives in Manila, but should be. Twitter user Howel Sevilla shared this photo of overloaded jeeps that he said were speeding on C-5 Road at 70 to 80 kilometers per hour on Tuesday morning.
Overloading, especially the practice of sabit or hanging on to a jeepney, is prohibited because of safety concerns, but Public Utility Vehicle operators and their passengers will sometimes choose the risk over having to wait for another jeep.
Overloading isn’t confined to jeeps either. Buses along EDSA will fill the aisles with people too, especially at rush hour, and motorcycles have been known to carry three, four, sometimes even five people. There is always room for one more as long as you’re willing to sacrifice a little comfort and personal space.
Load limits and safety often take a back seat against getting to your destination as quickly as possible, and getting as many fares as you can.
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That’s not a shot of the MRT, that’s actually from inside a bus (Coconuts Manila)
As with the MV Dona Paz, the most tragic case of overloading in recent Philippine history, regret only comes when an accident happens. By then, of course, it’s too late.
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Photo: Howel Sevilla
