Philippine Automotive History Book Project

[jpdm]

in the case of jeepneys....

As compensation (Philippine Rehabilitation Act) for our destruction during World War II, the Americans provided us with money to rehabilitate our transport industry. Remember, the Japanese confiscated everything that ran on wheels to limit the mobility of the guerillas, that is why a people carrier was badly needed by the Roxas admin. Now, the problem is that we were kinda shortchanged by the Americans by forcing us to buy surplus military equipment. Well, we couldn't do anything. No money would be released unless we bought those surplus machines. Enterprising and resourceful pinoys (e.g. Sarao) converted (with longer chassis) these Willy's jeeps into passenger jeepneys.

And the rest is history for the workhorse made by the former kutsero turned into an industrialist.