If you thought the Philippine transport system had run out of surprises, think again. In a move that seems straight out of a sci-fi movie, the people in charge of our roads and the local transport providers have announced that flying jeepneys will soon take to the skies to help commuters avoid EDSA traffic. Yes, you read that right: jeepneys, but make them airborne.

After decades of trying to decongest Metro Manila’s infamous gridlock with bus lanes, bike lanes, carpooling schemes, and more coding experiments than we can count, the authorities have apparently decided that the solution lies not on the ground, but above it.

According to a government spokesperson, the concept is called “SkyJeep” and was born out of frustration with EDSA’s perpetual gridlock and an inspiring binge of vintage sci-fi films during a long weekend.

“We realized that we’ve tried almost everything to fix the traffic situation, but the solution was right above us,” our source told us, barely keeping a straight face. “Since we can’t widen the roads any more than we already have, we’re taking public transport to the skies.”

The SkyJeep program is expected to begin pilot testing next month, with modified jeepneys equipped with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities. These souped-up PUVs will have retractable wings, turbo propellers, and what authorities call “adaptive flight tech” to dodge power lines and avoid hitting billboards of celebrities endorsing gambling and skincare products.

Despite their futuristic capabilities, these flying jeepneys will stick to their roots. The iconic sabit culture will still be alive and well, with daring commuters now hanging on—literally for dear life—as the jeepneys race through Metro Manila’s skyline.

“We’re even keeping the classic ‘BARYA LANG PO SA UMAGA’ reminder, except now the driver might also ask for ‘seatbelt lang po’ before takeoff,” he quipped.

To prevent chaos in Metro Manila’s already-crowded airspace, authorities plan to initially limit the flying jeepney routes to key choke points:

• Antipolo to Makati
• Alabang to BGC
• Mandaluyong to Manila Loop via Pasay

And for those worried about safety, fret not. Authorities assure the public that all SkyJeep drivers will undergo extensive retraining—with a focus on turbulence avoidance, airplane dodging, and maintaining composure when passengers ask to be dropped off midair.

Surprisingly, the fares for flying jeepneys are expected to be competitive with regular ones. The spokesperson confirmed that passengers would only pay a slight premium for the “convenience” of avoiding EDSA, with a possible “extra charge” if the driver has to circle around to find a parking spot.

“It’s still affordable,” he assured. “After all, we’re not in this to make money—we’re just here to make sure no one spends three hours stuck in traffic when they could get to work in 15 minutes with a bit of altitude.”

If flying jeepneys prove successful, authorities are reportedly considering a more ambitious expansion: jetpack-equipped e-trikes for delivery riders and drone taxis for the tech-savvy elite.

But for now, Metro Manila’s commuters can look forward to swapping the bumper-to-bumper grind of EDSA for a bird’s-eye view of the chaos they used to be stuck in. So, keep your heads up, folks…literally. And have a happy April Fools’ Day while you’re at it.