Metro Manila

By taxi

Taxis are very affordable by western standards but pretty expensive for locals and almost all are now air-conditioned and use a meter to compute for the final fare. The taxi rates start at PHP 40 USD 0.90 for the first 500 metres and an extra PHP 3.50 USD 0.08 for every succeeding 300-metres or 2 minutes of stopping.

Some drivers may take advantage of tourists, but closer regulation by authorities and even by mall operators, are curbing this practice slowly. Many taxis are in a poor state of repair and drivers drive erratically. The LTFRB Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has now instituted hotline numbers to report erring drivers. Just take note of the cab name and number. Mall operators also closely monitor the operations of taxis that use their taxi racks by ensuring that cab drivers do not choose only passengers bound for nearby destinations. Do not hire taxis waiting at bus terminals; they will charge much higher fare 100% more than normal fare. Just walk out from any main bus terminal, and you will find plenty of cabs.

Be wary especially during traffic as drivers will ask for a minimum fare higher than what the meter requires you to pay. Also during rush hour both morning and evening, as well as other times when there is heavy traffic such as heavy rains, it is not unusual to see taxi drivers hesitant to drive you if your destination involves EDSA or an area full of offices; it is extremely difficult to hail a cab during these hours. During the early morning, passengers are strongly advised to bring smaller denominations of bills as well as coins as drivers usually don't have ready change.

On foot

It is not recommended to walk in Manila since many street sides are infested with vendors and peddlers. If walking is inevitable, just remember that you should always walk on areas were pedestrians walk common sense, and crossing a street is not a problem, if you know how to cross the street correctly. Walking at night is not also recommended, especially for women. Walking in groups is a safe option if you are going at night. The business district of Makati is walkable as well as Taguig.

By Jeepney

Jeepneys are evolved versions of the Jeep which American Armed Force units used as utility vehicles during the war years. Usually built with a reconditioned surplus diesel engine from Japan coupled to a locally fabricated chassis, jeepneys come in a wide range of colors and decorations that are limited only by the owner's/driver's imagination and taste. Over time, it has become the most common means of public transport in the Philippines. Recently however, the introduction of more modern buses as well as the more efficient LRT and MRT have lessened the importance of the jeepney. They still do travel all over the city, particularly in routes which are too small to be serviced by buses - but know exactly where you are headed before getting on. Once inside, pay your fare or "bayad" directly to the driver by telling him where you want to get off and how many people you are paying for. It is a norm all over the country that if you are seated far from the driver, one just need to say "Bayad po" while extending the hand with your fare to the driver and someone will readily take your fare and pass it until it gets to the driver. Giving back of change or "sukli" if the fare given is in a large denomination will come in a similar manner, and a polite expression of "Thank you" or "Salamat po" as a sign of gratitude is encouraged.

The fare structure begins with a minimum fare for the first four kilometers and increases every additional kilometer thereafter. As of February 2011 minimum fare is P 8 14 US cts while the per kilometer additional fare is P 1.25. Do not however expect that a driver will be able to give any change for very large denominations, e.g. P500 or P1000.

You can also request the driver to inform you that you are near to your destination. Note that loading and unloading zones for jeepneys are rarely followed so people hop on and get off practically at will. Saying "para" or "para po!" is the standard way to tell the driver that you need to get off. Caution - Jeeps are designed to carry small people - and can get very cramped for anyone over 6ft tall particularly if the jeepney is fully loaded! This arrangement is cramped even for the size of the locals who are small by Western comparison and some would regularly complain. Though not widely practiced, some people would pay for the price of two to avoid getting cramped by someone else as the fares are anyway extremely cheap. Jeepneys usually seat anywhere from 0 to 30 people.

By Rail

Travelling by rail is so far, one of the fastest options. Here are some options to choose from:

There the LRT which is run by the Light Rail Transit Authority or LRTA (http://www.lrta.gov.ph/pa...). The LRT has two lines. Line 1 also known as the Yellow Line runs along Taft Avenue from Baclaran in Paranaque to the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City. Line 2 also known as the Purple Line runs from Santolan in Pasig to Recto in the heart of downtown Manila.

MRT

The Metro Rail Transit (http://www.dotcmrt3.gov.ph) also known as Line 3 or the Blue Line is a light rail transit system that runs along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue or EDSA, one of the main thoroughfares in Metro Manila. The MRT runs from the North Avenue Station in Quezon City to the Taft Avenue Station in Pasay City. Fares are cheap 15 pesos for the entire length and it is air conditioned albeit quite crowded during the morning and early evening rush hours. Entering the system requires a ticket which like other countries, must be inserted onto the turnstile. Alternatively, contactless plastic cards are increasingly becoming available to access the system although surcharges to both top-up the card and to pay for actual travel apply.

Single-journey and stored-value tickets are available for each of the lines. You can transfer between lines at the following areas:

Between Line 1 and Line 2: Dorroteo Jose-RectoBetween Line 1 and Line 3: Taft Avenue-EDSABetween Line 2 and Line 3: Araneta Centre/Cubao

However, unlike most other countries, you will need to exit the system and purchase a separate ticket to ride on the other lines except if you're in possession Strong Republic Transit Flash Pass. Also be prepared for long queues at the entrance as security personnel will check to see if bags are loaded with prohibited items.

Lines 1 and 3 are expected to be crowded during rush hour and while the journey itself can be fast, expect to wait a long time before riding and be mindful of your personal belongings as pickpockets are not uncommon.

By Tricycle

Tricycles motorcycles with modified side cars These are common for short trips in areas where jeepneys do not travel. In Manila proper you are unlikely to see any. However, in outlying suburbs and towns they are more common. Another variant is the pedicab which is merely a bicycle with a side car.

By car

The metropolis has an extensive system of highways connecting the various cities and municipalities. The major roads include ten radial roads, which branch out from central Manila and five circumferential roads which form concentric arcs around downtown Manila. Most of these roads are very important transportation arteries. One is the C-4 Circumferential Road 4 also called Epifanio de los Santos Avenue or more popularly known as EDSA. Some other other important roads are R-1 Radial Road 1 or Coastal Road/Manila-Cavite Road; R-3 or South Luzon Expressway SLEX; R-7, which consists of Espana Avenue, Quezon Avenue, and Commonwealth Avenue; R-8 or the North Luzon Expressway NLEX; and C-5 going from Bicutan to Libis simply referred to as C-5.

However, driving in a private car is not recommended for people who are unfamiliar with Manila because many drivers there ignore such things as stoplights and lane markings and most also have no idea what right of way means although this behavior has been decreasing significantly over the years. Public transport is very cheap however but may get very crowded during the rush hours in the morning and early evening 7 AM to 10 AM and 4 PM to 7 PM. Traffic also tends to crawl during these times so best avoid being on the move in these occasions. Another fact to take note is, just like any city in South-East Asia, drivers in Manila tend to be reckless, but road signages are very common, though some are not that visible, and are also well abided and respected by at least 75% of Manila drivers despite the fact that this signages are quite different from international standards because of its very dominant pink color.

When driving, be cautious of pedestrians crossing illegally. Be also aware when driving in narrow streets, where children usually play, given Manila is a crowded metropolis. Be also aware of the existing Number-Coding Scheme, where some vehicles are not allowed to ply Metro Manila streets from 7AM to 10AM, and from 3PM to 7PM, Mondays to Fridays, i.e. cars with license plates ending in numbers 1 and 2 should not go out of the street on the said schedule every Mondays, 3 and 4 every Tuesdays, and so on and so forth. Makati City however observes the Number-Coding scheme the whole day.

The price of petroleum is relatively comparable to that paid in the US but expensive in the eyes of locals.

By bus

Buses are common in the major thoroughfares of Metro Manila and most will pass through EDSA. The common routes are as follows:

Origin/Destination	Destination/Origin	Way/s
Baclaran	Navotas	EDSA and Ayala/EDSA alone
Baclaran	SM Fairview	EDSA and Ayala / Quezon Avenue and Espana
Baclaran	Malanday	EDSA and NLEX North Luzon Expressway
Baclaran	Sta. Maria, Bulacan	EDSA, Ayala, and NLEX/MacArthur Highway
Grotto	Ninoy Aquino International Airport	EDSA and SM Fairview
Malanday	Ninoy Aquino International Airport	EDSA
Alabang/Pacita	Navotas	SLEX South Luzon Expressway and EDSA
Alabang/Pacita	Novaliches	SLEX, EDSA and NLEX
Alabang	Malanday	SLEX and EDSA
Alabang	SM Fairview	SLEX and EDSA
Quiapo	Cainta	Ortigas Avenue, San Juan and Sta. Mesa

There are both ordinary and air-conditioned buses available. Conductors collect your fare once on board and they are ready with change although it is suggested you have coins during morning rush-hours ready. Just tell him/her where you want to get off. Like the jeepneys, buses do not have route numbers identifying their routes and often do not observe loading and unloading areas except for some highly regulated zones where they are bound to get a ticket for not doing so, most notably in Makati's central business district. As such, it is not uncommon for people to get on and off in odd places. Buses sometimes load and unload in the middle of the road and couldn't care less about the traffic they may cause. Furthermore, they don't have a timetable for when to stop at a particular area although buses bound to the same place stop at a particular area seconds from each other. The fare structure of buses is almost the same as that of jeepneys where a fare matrix is provided and fares increase at a constant rate per kilometre after the first few kilometres. While EDSA has a bus lane two lanes wide on each side, these are generally packed with buses from city/provincial routes funneling down the thorughfare, and are rarely followed. It is not uncommon to see that a bus won't go until it is fairly packed so it's best to avoid an empty bus. This is because the drivers and conductors are paid depending on how many passengers they take-in. If your route/destination is along EDSA, it is best to take the MRT see below to avoid the traffic.