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It was recently suggested to me by Scott that I relay some of the cost of things and other almost daily activities that go on around here in Calbayog. I asked for a suggestion and I got a good one. I hope to get more good suggestions too. First I better answer this one and hopefully it will a good enough answer that people will see that I’m serious about letting as many people as possible know about Calbayog City.
The first thing I would like to concentrate on is the costs of the modes of transportation. Here in Calbayog we do not use the jeepneys because it just makes it extra crowded downtown and there is a city ordinance against it because of the excess pollution they cause. Well people have jeepneys, but there are not a lot of them and the ones that are here are Private and not used for public transportation. We also do not have taxis here. I don’t know why on those, but probably for the same reason as the jeepneys.
Okay lets start with the pedal trikes or as they are called around here, Pajak-Pajaks. The normal cost of one of those is P10 per person. They are used for shorter trips, but can be used for up to mid-range trips, about a mile, maybe 2, but in cases like that it would cost a bit more and finding out before getting in one is advisable. They are of course slower than the other transportation, but you also have the vehicle to yourself and since you are going so slow, you can get a better view of your surroundings while you are traveling. Normally when I travel via the pajak-pajaks coming home from downtown I will pay them at least P20. The only time I ever use one for a distance like that though is when Lita is with me. Normally I just walk and if I get tired I take the next form of transportation, the motorized trikes or Tricycles.
The Tricycles are for the mid-range traveling and the normal cost for one of those is P9 per person. They have 2 different sizes of these. The larger ones I’m told are called Pajero. That’s the same name as a SUV model here. That is probably an unofficial name though. Now to me it didn’t seem right to pay less for a vehicle that has to pay the high prices of gas around here (about P60 per liter), but the way it was explained to me is that it just takes more effort with the pedal trikes, so they charge a little bit more. It all more or less doesn’t make much difference to me unless I’m in a hurry because I normally just pay P20 for either one that I happen to get on.
The next local mode is the multi-cab. Normally these are used for longer travel and different multi-cabs have different routes, but they are all clearly marked on the side of their truck. Also normally they have a set place that they travel to and from, meaning that you usually can not flag one down while you are walking along. The fare from downtown Calbayog to Gandara is P40. That distance is approximately 31 kilometers (14 miles) and it takes around 40 minutes for the trip.
That’s all for the local transportation and unless you have your own vehicle, that is to the best of my knowledge the only ways to get around locally. So if you wanted to ride from my house to the downtown area and back, then the minimum it would cost you is P18 or P20, depending on which mode of transportation you choose. For me if I do it, it would cost me P40 (about $1) because I know it’s hard for these drivers to make money and to me it’s worth that little bit.
Although I have never had anyone actually try to cheat me, sometimes they will claim to not have change, so be sure to bring the correct amount when possible. Also if you want change, it’s best to remain seated or standing next to the driver until he/she (there are a few female drivers) returns your change. Normally they will not run after you to give you your change if you do not look like you want any.
Of course if you are staying at the Ciriaco Hotel and Resort you can ask them to take you downtown in one of there hotel vans. You can also call them and they will come pick you up. They will also pick up any guests that you have with you that are not staying at the hotel.
In the next post I will discuss the van services that they have in the area. Those are used for the even longer trips and they have an interesting perspective on their seats.
Salamat, Y’all
Wish more the guys here would buy a golf cart like I did my first year. LTO considers it a farm implement no license or registration required. Most the carts without tweaking will go 14-17 mph, plenty fast for in town a trip to the airport or to STA Margarita. Yes I been on the highway, had a highway trooper stop talk to me told him I had checked out LTO he said yes, left me alone after asking if my buddy that was single would like to meet his sister. Only problem no one here knows much about them, Cebu or Manila nearest repair centers, so maybe if more got here it would be a chance for a living maintaining them.
Rick, A friend of mine used to live in sun city Arizona he had one of those gas powered golf carts. He drove it on main roads there, they would cruise at 30 mph. If I could find one of those I would buy one,that would be fun driving around on. How much did yours cost?
Mine was extended , 2 forward facing bench seats. I had one back in USA I did tweak to run 30-35 mph but you really need to have hydraulic brakes then. Mine cost P135,000 delivered to Calbayog. I see some for sale on the internet want ads for less that are just the single seater.
Rick,
Where did you buy your cart? Was it in the PI?
I would love to have a cart to scoot around in our barangay. I would want the 2 bench seats like yours.
I worry about maintenance just like I do with our car. In January, we had two blowouts in less than a week driving on the crappy roads. In order to get two new tires, my wife had to go to Catbalogan. Does any reader know of a good auto mechanic shop in Calbayog?
Eric’ Auto repair #09-15-806-7835 out close to the airport one place in town was recommended to me Ruffie’s but they are the ones tore up the electronics on my golf cart trying to install a simple starter generator. My Cart came out of Tacloban, there is a 9 hole course there, or Cebu has golf courses, there is an EZgo dealer in Manila or you can look online at http://www.sulit.com/ wanted to sell adverts for carts
EC Marketing on Rosales can order most easy to install on a golf cart, drive belt, tires,battery etc.Mine was Gas ran on about P500 gas a week I would not suggest electric carts, charging stations could be a bit tricky to set up for it here in Calbayog.
When we stayed on the island I was interested in picking up a gas or propane powered golf cart but the only ones I could find were in Manila. It’s good to see some info about local mechanics and that great ideas are shared by great minds, lol. What I’d really like to get is one of these John Deere Gators but I think the only dealer is in Manila. They run about $9k in the US so I can only imagine what they cost there. I could probably buy a fleet of habal-habals for the same money. 🙁
Saw this at a trade show and fell in love with it.
http://www.deere.com/wps/dcom/en_US/products/equipment/gator_utility_vehicles/crossover_utility_vehicles/825i_s4/825i_s4.page?
Hi John, I’m just now catching up with your blog. We bought a Honda TMX two weeks ago. My brother in law is using it as a habal-habal on Santo Nino Island. He may be the hardest working man I know. My wife wanted the business so she and her brother will split the profit. Surprisingly it’s been pretty good so far. Expenses were about p100k to purchase and modify the bike. The IRS got my taxes back just in time. If business stays the same it should pay for itself in two years. There’s only about a dozen or less bikes on the island, no trikes, cars or any other four wheel transport (except the broken down municipal Suzukis and the new ambulance). Nice niche business. If you’re wondering why I say my brother in law is so hard working I’ll give you an idea: he’s a fisherman who recycles bottles and metal, harvests copra and runs a sari-sari store with his wife. Now he’ll be doing the motorcycle taxi bit, too. He’s not rich but he’s got drive! The site makeover is pretty nice.
Howdy Mark. That sure does sound like a hard working man. I’ve met a few of those guys since I’ve been here, but he’s one of the busiest it sounds like.
You say you bought it 2 weeks ago, does that mean you are still here, here again or you bought it long distance?
I’m glad you like the site makeover. I’m not quite done yet, but most of the rest of it will be unnoticeable. I hope that unnoticeable stuff will speed the site up a little bit though.
Hi John,
The wife and her brother did the shopping. He’s pretty levelheaded and they know what they’re looking for. I was strictly the financier on this one. With a little help from my tax return. I was resting in the quiet, coldness of northern Ohio. I’ll be there the last week in June.
Okay. I hope to see you then. We should be leaving the 1st week of July, probably for a week, maybe more, not sure yet.
It is our annual off the island for at least a day thing. We ‘may’ go to the States, but most likely it will be only to Japan and/or Korea.
We will be leaving through Clark, so we may end up staying there for a few days before we get a Space A flight out.
Looking forward to it. You might want to check out Hong Kong then. It seems someone is always running a special fare there and I think it would be quite the adventure.
I used to be Finance Mgr at a Yamaha/Honda dealership got to use the Yamaha Rhino and Honda Big Red everyday, here in PH i checked on these models with dealers and not available in PH, But I guess if you want to handle customs, shipping, importation is possible, I have gotten price Quotes on EZ-GO carts out of the dealer in Manila, actually only EZ-GO dealer in all PH. L6 model I want can be purchased for $(125.00 in the states, here it is $20,000 delivered to my door from Manila all shipping,customs,taxes include. I tried pricing out shipping b4 and also customs expenses then adding the taxes in, comes out not a bad price from the dealer just the cost of wanting something imported. The new ones have 401 CC gas Engines mine was only 295CC ran all week on P500 in gas, more comfy than a 2 wheeler, had headlights and extended roof front and rear windshields so we stayed dry unless wind blew the rain in sides ways.
Traveling around the Philippines there are so many different tricyles,seems like major size town has a different designed trike.
T he first time a saw a habal habal moter bike was in Tarangdan,for those of you that have not seen one of these,it is a motor bike with longer seat and four poles holding tarp to keep sun and rain off you
have seen up to six or seven on one bike.Like mark we have had to jump out of the trike and push up the steep hills,things like these and the people make samar a great place.
I really need to travel around the Philippines more to see all the different things they have to offer.
I agree that Samar is a great place.
john i sure like the changes you have made the last few days and it shows by the amount of coments you have recieved.
I have noticed an increase in comments recently, but I didn’t associate that with the changes I have made. I just ‘assumed’ that it is an up time for comments. Sometimes they come in spurts, but mostly it is dormant. I wish for this many comments all the time, especially from new people to the blog. I will continue trying to improve the site and doing whatever is necessary to make y’all and others want to be here. I have a few more things in mind that I hope will make a difference too.
I’ve ridden in all 3 modes of transporation. On my first trip to Samar in March 2006, Jen and I took one of the Motorelas to our barangay which is about 20km from the airport. I thought we would never get there. I felt I would have to get out on the long hills and push in order to make it but we got there.
Before we got our car, we used to take the multicabs back and forth. Jen always paid so I don’t know the price. I have never felt uncomfortable in the multicabs as related to crime. For the most part, I stay away from the jeepneys in Angeles City since they are pickpocket havens. I was targeted once but he never got anything as Jen had our money in her purse firmly held on her lap. One other time, some young men got on and were obviously watching us so we got out at a place where there were trikes available and got one of those for the rest of the trip. Better safe than sorry.
One story on the pajak-pajak. One took Jen, two of her sisters and me to the old terminal on the other side of the river to catch a multicab back to San Joaquin. Jen paid the drivers and I slipped my driver an extra 20 pesos for having to pedal my fat ass so far. He laughed and said thank you.
OK, one more story about the pajak-pajak. During my first trip to Calbayog, we took one to a bar along the highway heading south out of the city. It wasn’t as far as your place and I don’t remember exactly where it was but it was such a pleasant ride. It had rained earlier and it smelled so fresh and flowery that I decided then and there that Samar was where I wanted to live.
That’s a lot of comment to answer Gary so I’ll just say that I also have never had a problem with any crime on transportation or otherwise, I have offered to get out and push or walk for some of the pedi-cabs, but they always say, “It’s okay” and I also have slipped the drivers extra money for hauling my fat ass around.
John, the Pajero is a Mitzubishi SUV which might be a ‘joke name’ for the “Motorela” as a poor man’s SUV. The cab over motorcycle which you were referring to I believe is called a Motorela. in India they are called an “autorickshaw” and in Thailand they are Tuktuk’s. Here is a good link that explains… http://www.bootsnall.com/articles/09-07/7-unique-modes-of-transport-in-asia.html
Although the link mentions that the Motorela is only found in Northern Mindanao, that is obviously outdated, as they have spread over a much larger area.
Well that Motorela at that site is a little bit different than the one I have in my picture. The one in my picture has 2 seats up front next to the driver, one on each side. But it is the same basic principal and it is larger. Maybe a new model came out because you know that Filipinos can think of all kinds of ways to make money. They may figure out a way to add a couple more seats to the tricycle before long. I have seen motorcycles here with 6 or 7 people riding. I saw a videos that had, I think, 10 or 12 people riding, with a little built on extension.
I think that it is a “joke” name for a poor man’s SUV, but it was the only name I could find out from anyone around here beside tricycle or large tricycle.
I already knew the Pajero was an SUV, but I didn’t remember it was a Mitzubishi.
Those larger tricycles have not been in this area for very long, only since I’ve been here I think, but once they started coming in, they poured in.
Most all the Motorela’s I’ve seen have a little bench seat on either side of the driver. I know the family Motorela does and that’s where the kids usually sit.
That’s the only ones I’ve seen until I saw that picture at the website you linked.