A jeepney is a type of public utility vehicle and the most widely used form of public transportation in the Philippines, recognizable for its crowded bench seating and brightly decorated bodywork, which has made it a cultural icon of the country. The vehicle originated after the Second World War, when departing American troops sold or gave away hundreds of surplus Willys MB jeeps, and Filipinos rebuilt them with metal roofs, vivid paintwork and reconfigured seating to carry far more passengers than the original military vehicle, creating an inexpensive transit option at a moment when much of the country's existing transport infrastructure had been destroyed by the war. Jeepneys remain central to Philippine daily life: as of 2022 an estimated 600,000 drivers nationwide depended on them for their livelihood, and in Metro Manila alone roughly nine million commuters rode a jeepney every day.
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