LTFRB to require GPS installed in public buses

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will soon require all public utility buses (PUBs) to have GPS (Global Position System) installed so their location and speed can be monitored while on the road.

Bus operators can purchase the GPS devices only from suppliers accredited by the LTFRB. The devices will also come with a SIM card slot, GSM/GPRS connectivity, and updated firmware so it can send data to servers for monitoring.

edsa buses

“Ang paglalagay ng GPS sa mga pampublikong bus ay isang paraan para madaling malaman kung ang isang bus ay wala sa tamang ruta ng ayon sa kanilang prangkisa,” said LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez.

GPS suppliers are also required to equip the device with LED-based On Screen Displays that show the actual speed of the bus so that passengers can also monitor if the bus driver is complying to the set speed limits – 60kph for Metro Manila, 90kph for provincial.

In addition, the board is also planning to develop a mobile application so users can check on their smartphone or tablet the bus’s location, when it will arrive, and how long it will take to reach their destinations.

{sources: 1, 2}

Louie Diangson
22 Comments
  1. FINALLY!!! I hope for more improvements to come. Our public transportation are too behind and archaic as compared to other neighboring countries, where not that really-poor country anyways.

    I hope DOTC will come to their senses to start reform our public transportation, we’ve been stuck to the past for a very long time. Its very fragmented, chaotic and inconsistent. We still don’t have organized bus/jeepney transit, especially in cities, and our metro system is a big mess, operating differently even with same management (plus the on-going issues we’ve been seeing lately).

    Btw since we’re having GPS on buses, is the data available to the public or at least for developers that can use the data to make applications, like tracking the next arrival and EST travel to certain locations. If It is, then hopefully no more guessing game especially for rush hour.

  2. Ang problema sa mga Pinoy, negatibo lagi mag-isip
    , una nagrereklamo kayo sa mgq rumaratsadang bus na nakakamatay at wala daw gnagawa ang gobyerno. ngaun gumawa ng solusyon ang gobyerno tapos iisipin lang din ng mga.Pinoy eh pagkakakitaan lang bng nila yan..

    Taena kailan tayo makakakita ng tama kung lagi natin pinangungunahan ng mali.

    no wonder na walang asenso ang Pilipinas

  3. kung gps, ok lang pero namomonitor ba talaga nila yun? kung may bus na wala sa ruta hahabulin ba nila yun o titingnan lang sa screen. e kung yung led naman hindi po yun enough. dapat dyan may speed limiter yung bus na kahi abot sahig na yung pedal kung ano naka set dun lang talaga max speed. problema satin walang desiplina kaya dapat sapilitan nalang kung ito naman ay nakakabuti.

  4. They should install BlackBox and DashCam as mandatory to all

  5. Expect those GPS devices to be over-priced. Naghhanap nnaman ng makukurakot ang gobyerno mga P.I. na yan!

  6. ^This. Probable solution is a giant telco to subsidize the upfront cost of the 2-way cam and GPS device in exchange for subscription with lock in period for the data services required 4G/LTE/3G/EDGE, which may also be used as a WiFi hotspot for the passengers. Or probably contact Nokia Here Maps solution for probable tie up with said giant telco. That way the upfront payment for the gadget is subsidized.

    Any better ideas?

  7. Just like Public Buses of Taiwan.
    Beep sounds can be heard when they exceeded a 60 kph within town.
    At dahil don na aalert narin si Manong driver, at si Juan dela Cruz.

  8. New source of corruption. Sa dami daming ginawa ng LTFRB para sa mga yan wala pa din silang nagawang tama. Kung lalagyan ng mga camera at GPS to dagdag pa to sa mga gastosin natin. Ibabato ng mga bus company ang gastosin nila sa Pag Bili ng GPS at camera na yan plus paniguradong LTFRB nanaman ang kikita dito sa project na to.

    • Ginagawan na nga solusyon sa mga problema eh kung ano pa pinag sasasabi mo. Kesa naman sa walang gawin man lang ang gobyerno.

    • @jarren oo,sobrang laganap ang kurapsyon sa Pilipinas,pero huwag naman kaagad maging mapanghusga. Bigyan muna natin ng chance,at saka natin icriticize pag nagsisimula na ang implementasyon…hindi naman magiging ganun kagastos ang pagsend ng gps data sa server,hindi naman ganun kabigat ang gps data eh. servers lang naman ang gagastusin natin,ung data,hardware,labor costs eh sa bus operatos na.

    • ^This. Probable solution is a giant telco to subsidize the upfront cost of the 2-way cam and GPS device in exchange for subscription with lock in period for the data services required 4G/LTE/3G/EDGE, which may also be used as a WiFi hotspot for the passengers. Or probably contact Nokia Here Maps solution for probable tie up with said giant telco. That way the upfront payment for the gadget is subsidized.

      Any better ideas?

  9. sana implement to agad and two way dash cam na rin para iwas holdup!

  10. This is a good idea. Its like the apps of grab taxi where we can locate the taxi.

    If this is fully implemented correctly they could see where the build up of buses – good for traffic study. I hope there will be no issue with the GPS provider.

    And yes, I too agree with an real time CCTV in the bus for security and to know the reckless driving among them.

  11. Parang Big Brother lang ah

  12. They are taking a cue from Singapore with the installation of GPS trackers in buses…

  13. bat hindi na lang 2 way dash cam na may built in GPS? at least may ebidensyang video kapag nakabangga.. tapos 2 way para kita din sa loob if ever may manghold-up, kita yung nangholdap..

    • hehe possible nga pero mahirap kung lahat ng public bus yun

      pero yung point kasi nung GPS, monitoring nung mga bus for speeding or kung tama yung route nila etc…

      inuuna nila traffic violations ng mga bus dahil sa mga sunod sunod na balita dati na aksidente, di kasi masyadong nababalita mga holdup/snatching sa bus so walang gustong umaksyon dyan hahaha

    • @Mon hindi imposible iimplement ung 2-way dash cam,meron na siya sa victory liner buses,2-way dash cams at built-in GPS,may sarili rin silang call center na nagmomonitor ng mga buses nila hahaha. Kung sakaling iimplement rin ung 2-way dash cams, kahit hindi na isend sa LTFRB ung video recordings ng mga buses,sobrang gastos nun sa gobyerno hahahaha. Gagamitin lang ung video recordings pag may incidents like robbery, reckless driving,etc.

    • anyway, maganda nga sana kung may 2 way dash cam mga bus pero mahihirapan ata silang maimplement hehe

    • siguro masmahal? tapos kailangan pang isubmit ng mga driver yung video nila kung sakali, compared kung GPS, nasa LTFRB na agad yung data.

      plus, kung may alam yung driver, pwede nyang idelete yung video or baka “masira” yung camera/storage kapag may aksidente

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