Public Transpo Stakeholders Orientation held at DLSU

The DLSU hosted the Stakeholders Orientation on Public Transport System in Metro Manila last January 30, 2015 at the 5/F Multi-Purpose Hall, Henry Sy, Sr. Hall. This workshop was organized by the team under the DOST-PCIEERD-funded project entitled, “An Integrated and Optimal Scheduling of a Public Transport System in Metro Manila (PUBFix)”, headed by Project Leader, Dr. Alexis M. Fillone of the Civil Engineering Department and Assistant Project Leader, Dr. Elmer P. Dadios of the Manufacturing Engineering and Management Department. Dr. Rosemary Seva, Dean of the Gokongwei College of Engineering welcomed the participants and the event was hosted by Dr. Marlon D.L. Era of the Social Development Research Center, who serves as a Social Scientist Consultant to the project. 

The Stakeholders Orientation Seminar has the following objectives:

1. To introduce the (PUBFix) project as well as the other ITS projects to the stakeholders, most especially the bus operators and drivers.

2.  To solicit the support of bus operators/companies through the use of their buses as test vehicles for the automatic bus passenger counter being developed.

Representatives from various government institutions, academic and research institutions, and bus companies were invited to attend the workshop. These include the following:

Government Institutions:

1. Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD)

2. Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC)

3. Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)

4. Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)

Academic and Research Institutions:

1.  De La Salle University – Manila (DLSU-M)

2. Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU)

3. University of the Philippines – National Center for Transportations Studies (UP-NCTS)

4. STRIDE Consulting Inc - Philippines

Bus Operators:

1. Cher Transport Inc

2. Darj Trans Co

3. Jasper Jean Services Inc

4. Mannrose Liner Inc

5. Mayamy & Magic Express

6. Nicholas Albert Trans

7. RRCG Transport Systems Inc

8. Saint Rose Transit

9. Worthy Transport Inc

Dr. Fillone gvies a token to Dr. Sigua. Other photos show the speakers during the orientation

The program started with a welcoming message from Dr. Rosemary Seva, Dean of the Gokongwei College of Engineering. Project leader, Dr. Alexis Fillone, proceeded to give an overview of the Stakeholder Orientation, afterwards. Dr. Ricardo Sigua of the UP-NCTS started things off with his presentation on the various ITS Programs in the Philippines, while Dr. Mike Gyeng Chul Kim, who currently serves as the Special Advisor to the Secretary of the DOTC, shared his insights and experiences in the bus transit system reform he spearheaded in Seoul, Korea.

Also from the DOTC, Mr. Robert Siy opened the discussion on the bus management system improvement programs of the DOTC and how the government institutions and the bus operators, along with the support of the academic and research community, can cooperate into forging a system that focuses on giving the best possible service to the travelling public. A presentation on Advance Traffic and Pollution Monitoring and Analysis System (ATPMS) by Dr. Kardi Teknomo of the ADMU followed. Engr. Edwin Sybingco of the DLSU, ended the morning session with a presentation on SMART Bus Data Capture.

Dr. Alexis Fillone of the DLSU started the afternoon session with a presentation on the PUBFix project, and how the bus operators can cooperate in the data gathering, entitling them to have access to both the data and output of the project. Mr. Jason Obregon, on behalf of Dr. Noriel Tiglao of STRIDE, discussed a presentation on the passenger counting device to be installed on the bus fleet of the participating bus companies. He lectured how STRIDE developed the devise, what it does, and how it can be used. Engr. Raymund Paolo Abad and Engr. Cyrill Escolano, both from the DLSU, presented their respective researches on how the data output of the device can be used by the bus operators in scheduling their operations.

Attendees from the government institutions, academic and research institutions, and bus companies were then asked to sign a Pledge of Commitment, to signify their vow to cooperate, in recognition of their respective shares of roles to play and responsibilities to fulfill in providing a safe and efficient public transport system. Assistant Project Leader, Dr. Elmer Dadios delivered a short message to end the program, afterwards.