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SafeTravelPH and UPPAF Launch PARASOL Project to Modernize Public Transport and Drive Climate Action in the Philippines

TSE

Updated: Nov 21, 2024

In a step towards modernizing public transport systems in the Philippines, SafeTravelPH has partnered with the UP Public Administration Foundation (UPPAF) on the Parasol Project, an initiative designed to empower transport service entities and government agencies with advanced technological tools, financial linkages, and capacity-building strategies. With the growing need for sustainable urban mobility, the Parasol Project aims to integrate technology-driven solutions that optimize route planning, fleet management, and access to climate financing.


The Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) launched by the Philippine Department of Transportation (DOTr) faces several hurdles, particularly for jeepney operators who are among the most affected stakeholders. With deadlines for organizational and operational consolidation and franchising requirements, many operators express concerns about compliance and the potential threats to their livelihoods.


In light of the challenges, PARASOL aims to provide a set of innovative tools that link operational data to better planning and financing. Utilizing intelligent transport systems,  blockchain technologies (ITS), and collaborative governance approach, the project will offer tools for measuring and verifying public transport trips and patterns, business outlook, energy consumption, and emissions, and just transition indicators and scenarios planning, which will inform investment decisions and operational improvements.


Enhancing Data-Driven Decision Making


The PARASOL platform is designed to address the specific needs of transport service entities, helping them improve multi-level efficiencies (city, organizational, route, driver, and vehicle), for better energy and eco-driving practices and outcomes. By integrating real-time data from the SafeTravelPH app and telematics, the platform will empower transport operators and asset managers with insights into their operations. Key features of the project include:


  1. Route Network and Service Planning: An enhanced framework for preparing the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) of local governments, with digital tools for data generation, collection, management, analytics, evaluation, and visualization. It will help inform new planning and governance mechanisms in public transport such as fleet size mixing within a route, financial modeling, network-based service/route planning, and viability simulations.

  2. Business Intelligence and Fleet Management Systems: A comprehensive module that allows transport service entities or TSEs (cooperatives and small business corporations) to monitor and optimize their vehicle operations and business growth.

  3. MRV and Benchmarking Tools: A system that provides valuable information on climate and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risk factors, aiding in financial risk management, and providing the government and financial institutions with Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) system for road-based public transport.

  4. Access to Financing and Investments: By capturing operational data, the PARASOL platform aims to facilitate better government and private investments thru budget programming, and private and climate financing for TSEs that are transitioning to modern and energy-efficient transport solutions. It will also demonstrate a Quality of Service (QoS)-based Service Contracting Program (SCP) using Parasol technologies, as a living lab for public transport investment research.


A Just Transition for Vulnerable Workers


As the country aims to modernize its transport sector, ensuring a just transition for workers in the jeepney sector is paramount. PARASOL’s open platform will help support government planners in working with vulnerable transport workers by providing them with the tools and resources needed to adapt to changes in the industry while actively contributing to climate action.


The project is particularly timely, as the General Appropriations Act of 2024 mandates the creation of a “real-time public dashboard” to monitor the use of the PUV Modernization Fund. The PARASOL platform is expected to expand upon the work initiated by the SafeTravelPH Public Transport Crowdsourcing and Information Exchange Platform, developed by the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG).


A Unique Solution in the Developing Countries


PARASOL is pioneering in its approach, as it is the first system to link paratransit operations with climate financing in the Philippines. Existing ESG-related services tend to focus on larger companies, leaving smaller TSEs with significant risk exposures without adequate support. By bridging this gap, PARASOL not only addresses the specific challenges faced by TSEs but also empowers them to engage with climate financing opportunities.


The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has highlighted the increased risks faced by informal transport operators, noting their significant contributions to the economy despite often being overlooked. PARASOL aims to provide an open data system that empowers TSEs and enhances their access to financing, ultimately supporting a more resilient public transportation network.


A Broader Impact


The direct beneficiaries of the PARASOL project are the TSEs that opt to participate, gaining access to fleet management tools, financial reporting capabilities, and valuable data for operational improvements. The project will also benefit key government agencies such as the DOTr, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Climate Change Commission (CCC), international development agencies, government financial institutions, and the Local Government Units, which are vital for enhancing transport service entities.


Commuters and the general public stand to benefit indirectly from improved service quality as TSEs modernize their operations. Moreover, multilateral banks with access to international climate funds will be able to tap into the system to facilitate investment in cooperative projects.


Looking Ahead


The PARASOL project is set to run for 12 months until August 2025, contingent on budgetary considerations and open to co-funding opportunities for downstream work. The project includes key components like technology research and development, data collection, stakeholder engagement, and information dissemination activities.


As the Philippines strives to modernize its public transport system, the PARASOL Project emerges as a critical initiative that combines technology with strategic policy development. By enabling better data-driven decision-making and providing access to investments (both public and private), PARASOL aims to help create a more sustainable, efficient, and equitable future for public transport in the country.

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Address

SafeTravelPH Mobility Innovations Organization, Inc.
UP National College of Public Administration and Governance, R.P. Guzman St., University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, 1101

Inquiries

For any inquiries, questions or recommendations,

developer@safetravel.ph

© 2024 by SafeTravelPH Mobility Innovations Organization, Inc.

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