A mobile application to support the daily journey of commuters in Metro Manila, Philippines.
This project was made as part of the requirements for my major, BS Communications Technology Management. The project involved developing a startup business plan for the assigned industry in the Philippine context.
A long-standing issue commuters face is the lack of safety they feel while commuting. This could come in forms of pickpocketing, scams, or sexual harassment. However, due to slow responses or difficulty in contacting the local police, many of these issues remain unresolved and only become posts shared on Facebook feeds and groups. Additionally, due to the pandemic, many Filipinos have been forced to be accustomed to cashless payment through platforms such as GCash and Beep. Additionally, due to the social distancing protocols and budgeting issues, the public transportation industry has been greatly affected causing long lines that could cost riders 2 to 4 hours before boarding the unit and crowding in train and bus stations due to controlled passenger numbers.
Thus we developed Pasahero, the Filipino's urban guide with reliable tracking, online community, navigation, and reporting. This would be a mobile application that allows users to plan their trips ahead of time and be aware of the current conditions of the transportation units and stations.
The app will rely on user-generated data if a station is crowded or a unit has been broken down. This information will then be confirmed by other users in the station. This could be done either through the reporting or navigation screens or through the online community for commuters within the app. The community will give users a centralized platform to talk about the conditions of certain areas that are frequently taken by commuters in Metro Manila.
Additionally, users can allow their loved ones to track their location during their commute to ensure their safety. In the instance that the user does not continue on their commute or make the transfer needed without informing the application, their listed contact will be informed. Users can also send incident reports for accidents, pick-pocketing, and sexual harassment.
Lastly, to alleviate the need to pay in cash with the exact amount or take time to scan a QR code, users can use the NFC chip on their phone or on a Pasahero bracelet to pay with their Pasahero Coins - an online currency specifically made for commuting. This is also safer in the event that someone would try to steal the user's NFC bracelet, their main funds on their e-wallets or bank accounts cannot be accessed.
