In the early 20th century, when automobiles were first introduced to the world, no strict

rules existed that required anyone to choose either right- or left-side driving.

Cars were few and far between, and a lot of roads were unpaved. Hence, choosing
which side to drive was just a matter of custom.

Pla
za Moraga in 1935. Photographer: Clarence Woodrow Sorenses, 1907-1982. © Board of Regents
of the University of Wisconsin System.
When the technology reached the Philippines, we didn’t start as a left-hand-drive
country right off the bat. In fact, we were the exact opposite.

Early automobiles in the country, as seen in various peacetime photographs, initially

adopted left-side driving, which means you drive your car to the left side of the road while
the driver (or the steering wheel) is on the opposite side of the vehicle.
 Frank
Carpenter, the first civilian and last American Governor of Moro Province (wearing skimmer) in
1914. flanked by Hadji Butu and the Sultan of Sulu Kiram II. Source: morolandhistory.com
WWII changed everything–and that included the way how we drive cars.

The Americans who took part in the war also brought with them motor vehicles that
were different from what Filipinos used to drive.

These vehicles, which would later become part of war surplus that gave birth to
Philippine  jeepneys, had its driver’s seat on the left side (for right-side driving). It is
said that the Americans first adopted this system after Henry Ford designed and
released his Model T.
 3
ladies enjoying themselves as they are leaving Intramuros through the Santa Lucia Gate,
Intramuros, Manila, Philippines, the 1930s. Photographer: Clarence Woodrow Sorenses, 1907-
1982. © Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System.
Apparently, the American vehicles were in conflict with the system that was in place in
the Philippines at that time. To facilitate the movement of the American troops,
uniformity had to be established.

Joseph H. Rauh, Jr. was a first lieutenant who joined General Douglas MacArthur’s
army in the Philippines. In an interview with Studs Terkel for the latter’s book “The Good
War: An Oral History of World War II,” Rauh recalled the difficulty of changing the status
quo (i.e. reorienting people in the Philippines to start driving on the right side of the
road). He said:

“I… was on General MacArthur’s staff… I was sort of mayor of Manila… You have no
idea of the problems you face. One night we get an order. From now on, everybody will
drive on the right side. The Philippines is one of those places where it’s on the left. Try
that sometime, brother, to figure out in three days how you’re gonna move people
from the left side to the right. Tell that Filipino guy with his carabao to go on the other
side of the road. {Laughs)”

Also Read: 10 Facts About World War II That Never Made It To Your Philippine
History Books

A permanent change was finally implemented when President Sergio Osmeña

signed Executive Order No. 34 on March 10, 1945.
The said EO justified the changes made by citing two reasons. It said that the
system “would reduce the price of motor vehicles imported into the Philippines from the
United States.” The other reason, of course, was to accommodate the motor vehicles of
the United States Army that were already plying Manila roads. (You can view the
original copy of the EO here).

And that, my friend, is how we became a left-hand-drive country, joining 75% of

countries around the world today with the same way of driving.

REFERENCE:

Manila Reborn. Google Arts & Culture. Retrieved 5 July 2016, from https://goo.gl/yXO1yw