Where the City Moves: Examining the Socio-Spatial Dynamics of Informal Transport Terminals in Monumento, Caloocan City

Abstract

In the Philippines, the Land Transportation Franchising & Regulatory Board (LTFRB) released a memorandum which outlines the standard classification and guidelines in the establishment, maintenance and operations of public transport terminals. Under this memorandum, the state requires the owner/operator of jeepney terminals or other kinds of PUV terminals to provide certain facilities and follow operating procedures necessary to promote safety, protection, comfort and convenience to passengers. However, in a dynamic and congested city like Manila, present urban realities paint an image of a transport terminal that consists only of a small staging ground in an empty lot, with inadequate facilities, often referred to as “informal terminals.” These terminals often operate outside legal boundaries by occupying public spaces such as street lanes and narrow entryways— which are areas not formally designated for transport use. Yet, despite the informalities in their operations, they have become embedded in the everyday mobility practices of commuters and transport workers, fulfilling critical gaps left by the formal transportation system. By employing a cross-case analysis between two informal transport terminals in Monumento, this study examines how these spaces are socially produced, negotiated, and sustained amidst state interventions and spatial constraints. Guided by Lefebvre’s spatial triad—spatial practices, representations of space, and representational spaces—this study examines the lived experiences, dominant political narratives, and symbolic meanings embedded in these terminals.