The Philippines public bus transportation sector is expected to be internet connected in three to five years yet because of the lack of the needed telecommunications infrastructure in the country and operations issues, according to an industry official.
Jose Bienvenido Manuel M. Biona, executive director Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (eVAP), said his forecast during a webinar on The Future of Connected Vehicles in Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam, organized by the European business chambers including the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP).
According to Biona, penetration of internet in public buses in the country is being bogged down by lack of technology, infrastructure, and operations issues.
For instance, the informal public transport has one operator per route, thus, the issue of difficulty for a unified scheduling and payment system.
“It’s quite challenging,” Biona said, but added that operators of public bus fleet are “warming up”.
By warming up, Biona said bus companies are starting to install cameras, Wi-Fi connections, and online payment system. “We’re in the process of setting up the system,” he said.
In addition, Biona added that industry expects the signing of the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act by President Duterte, otherwise it will lapse into law by April 15.
Biona said that once the law is enacted, it will be a big boost for the public bus industry as it provides incentives to modern technologies for automated transport, vehicle connectivity or manufacturing of products supporting this industry as well as services to implement systems are covered in the Strategic Investment Priorities Plan.
“So, there is an increasing in interest by players in the field of smart cities and vehicle connectivity and also smart EVs,” he said.
For now, bus fleet operators are challenged by poor internet service, transport system readiness, and immediate priorities of the government.
The country is being served by duopoly in the telco sector for quite a while. It is only recently that a third telco has started providing internet connections.
“It’s quite challenging, but we’re getting there,” he reiterated.
For instance, Biona said that 5G connectivity has been rolled out in a few areas in urban centers already.
Other contributing factors include government programs, particularly the Department of Information and Communications Technology, with its digital cities, national brandband, integrated government, and Philippine Roadmap for 5G technology.
Some of the smart cities and digitization projects of the government include the New Clark City, Innovative Iloilo 230, Cebu Bus Rapid Transit System, Davao High Priority Bus System, Baguio Automation Hub, Metro Manila Intelligent Transport System, Smart Agriculture System Project, New Manila International Airport, among others.
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The article was originally published in Manila Bulletin and written by Bernie Cahiles-Magkilat.
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