As part of the pilot program being promoted by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), PLDT has partnered with G Liner bus franchise owner De Guia Enterprises, Inc. to have their units installed with GPS monitoring devices.

Initial G Liner buses will be fitted with PLDT SME Nation’s Track & Trace, a GPS-enabled field asset tracking solution, to help monitor the bus units’ speed on the road, track units operating on their proper routes, enable operators to respond quickly of units that breakdown, and help locate their buses if it goes missing.

The device works 24/7 which provides online access to maps, color-coded grouping of people and location, alerts and alarms if their vehicle exceeds parameters set for geo-fencing, as well as real-time log reports back to its operators.

“G Liner strives to provide the public with a safe and affordable means of transportation.  By using the latest technologies from SMART we are able to monitor our buses to ensure the safety of our passengers. At the same time, operations is also improved,” said G Liner Project Manager Ryan Groves.

G Liner bus passengers can also connect freely to the buses’ Wifi connectivity through PLDT’s WiFun.

“By providing access to the internet, passengers can be more productive and their commute will be a little more enjoyable. Hopefully initiatives like our partnership with SMART will help convince the public to take public transportation and be part of the solution to Metro Manila traffic,” he added.

G Liner has a fleet of over a hundred aircon buses that ply between Taytay-Quiapo and Cainta-Quiapo. The company also operates four bus terminals, one in Taytay, Rizal, two in Cainta, Rizal and one in Quiapo.

According to the LTFRB draft circular based on a UP – National Center for Transportation Studies Road Safety Research Lab study, accident severity is very much related to speeds of colliding vehicles caused by tailgating or miscalculation of speed. Thus, the paper recommended the use of an in-vehicle GPS device in buses.

The circular which “institutes enhancements of PUB service with the use of technology in consonance with modernization program of public land transportation services and in the promotion of road safety,” states that “the use of GPS devices informs the [LTFRB] and the operators about the proper routes and the speed in which a bus is travelling. The GPS Device can also help improve security and safety for passengers and drivers alike.”

Through the pilot program, LTFRB, and its parent agency, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), will now be able to check on the location and speed of the buses on national roads and highways which should not exceed 60 kilometers per hour (kph) for city buses and 80 kph for provincial operators.

“PLDT fully supports this effort in helping improve road safety and curb vehicle accidents that endanger lives and property. We have fervently evangelized the benefits of helping business owners with technology, and these solutions not only equip them with better tools for their business but also help ensure that their customers and passengers on the road are in better hands,” said PLDT FVP and SME Business Head Kat Luna-Abelarde.

PLDT has initially installed GPS devices on some of GLiner’s buses for the pilot program but will soon connect all city and provincial units once fully rolled out.