Skip to main content

DOTC To Make Commuting In Metro Manila More Convenient

June 30, 2013

Manila, Philippines – An exhaustive, two (2)-year effort to gather and organize previously-unavailable data on buses, jeepneys, and trains in Metro Manila has been completed by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), now making it possible for commuters to plan their trips more efficiently and conveniently.

The initiative of building the Philippine Transit Information Service (PTIS) began in 2011, at a time when the Transport agency could not immediately provide certain essential information to commuters, such as the best route to take at a particular time, as well as the travel times involved. 

“The need to gather reliable data at that time in order to deliver convenient and efficient services to the public was immediately recognized and pursued,” explained DOTC spokesperson Migs Sagcal.


Using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, the DOTC gathered data on more than nine hundred (900) bus, train, and jeepney routes.  It also collected useful information such as the fares and amounts of time required to take these various modes of transport.

Following this, the data was organized and analyzed by the DOTC along with other concerned offices such as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Land Transportation Franchising & Regulatory Board (LTFRB), the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), and the Metro Rail Transit Corporation (MRTC).

As a result, it will now be possible to find out what a commuter’s options are to get from one point to another in Metro Manila, what types of transportation and how many transfers will be involved, and how much money and time each option will require.

“Our next step is to make the PTIS accessible to the public.  The intention has always been to use modern technology in empowering people to make well-informed decisions on their commute,” added Sagcal.

The two (2)-year data gathering and analysis effort was made possible by a grant from the World Bank, which also funded a similar project of the Cebu City Government to make its traffic management efforts more advanced.


The DOTC, MMDA, and the Cebu City Government will be hosting a three month-long competition called the Philippine Transit App Challenge along with other government agencies beginning this month, where individuals and groups mainly from the Information Technology (IT) industry will compete to develop applications using the PTIS database, which the public may then use to choose their best routes at any given time.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

NEW RESTO ALERT: Saigosan in Uptown Mall

Konnichiwa Saigosan! A new and funky izakaya recently opened at Uptown Mall headed by Chef Chris Oronce. This izakaya not only serves delectable dishes but is also a visual-feast. Inspired by animes, mangas, and JPop culture, Saigosan even has a train wherein you can hop from Kyoto to Osaka without a JR Pass! 

NEW RESTO ALERT: Hà Nội Phố (Ha Noi Pho)

Makati has been a go-to place for my family and I to grab a meal or sometimes just to have a cup of coffee. Though, really, it’s mostly just us visiting our favorite spots. Recently, my mom went out of town so it was just my dad and I who went out for dinner.

Salcedo Market x Legaspi Market Tour

We haven't visited the weekend markets for years so I was giddy with excitement because I was able to visit both Salcedo and Legaspi markets this month, thanks to our Dusit Thani Manila staycation . To differentiate the two, Salcedo market  is held every Saturday at the Jaime Velasquez Park in Salcedo Village Makati while Legaspi market is held every Sunday at the Corinthian Carpark in Legaspi Village Makati. Since we were coming from Dusit Thani Manila, it was quite a long walk but it was early in the morning (around 8AM) and even Ayala and Makati Avenues were still without cars. Wow!