Living on a jeepney

William Maralit and Lisa Pineda live with their dog, Choichoi, in a parked public utility jeepney in Baseco, Tondo, Manila, Philippines, 24 August 2026. The couple makes a living by scavenging for metal scraps and plastic along the coastline of Baseco Beach and selling them to a nearby junk shop. A day’s work can earn them about 200 pesos. The couple’s living conditions come as poverty remains a challenge in the Philippines. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, 9.7% of Filipinos, or about 11.08 million people, were living below the official poverty threshold in 2025.