Torno

In Mindanao (and most provinces of the Philippines) life is slower. A big factor for this is the torno system implemented by jeepneys, vans, tricycles and other public utility vehicles. The practice calls for jeepneys to wait at designated areas and not move until they are full - overloaded is the more accurate term.

Unlike their Metro Manila counterparts, provincial jeepneys seat three passengers beside the driver and anywhere from twenty to twenty-four at the main passenger cabin. The extension (a small plank of wood placed at the back entrance) seat one to two more passenger(s). The driver' aide (conductor/barker) rides outside the jeep (at the back and at times at the engine hood). Depending on the cargo and the destination, the jeepneys also carry sabit passengers (hanging from the side and rear of the the vehicle) and topload passengers (sitting on the reinforced roof of the vehicle).

Imagine that you have a meeting an hour from now and the travel time is forty-five minutes - no problem, right? You arrive at the torno site, board the jeepney and you count eight people already waiting there. You wait an average of three minutes per additional passenger to arrive and before the jeepney is ready to depart, you are already three minutes late from your appointment (and the jeepney has travelled zero kilometers yet).

The practice, in theory, can help in the country's energy problems. Each full vehicle takes the maximum number of passengers per liter of diesel - great! Not quite. The non-airconditioned jeepneys have their engines turned on and idling (traveling a phenomenal zero kilometer per hour) while waiting for about an hour for passengers. Its not as if they must turn on the engine to power the airconditioners for the comfort of their waiting passengers but for the illusion that the vehicle will move soon (crap). The passengers waiting there (beside live chickens and vegetables) must inhale all the exhaust from the engine. They not only waste fuel but increase the overall medical costs for the Filipinos thru respiratory diseases.

[image from http://mvphilippines.hypermart.net/jeepney.htm]