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Manila Bulletin devider devider IT student, instructors develop 'Transeek' app for Butuan City

IT student, instructors develop 'Transeek' app for Butuan City

Published Mar 9, 2019 04:25 pm
By Dhel Nazario  Necessity is the mother of invention. Commuters of Butuan City, Agusan del Norte can now look forward to a more comfortable and safe ride to their points of destination after a technology student and two instructors came up with the first tricycle hailing mobile app in the city. (photo courtesy of DOST Caraga / MANILA BULLETIN) (photo courtesy of DOST Caraga / MANILA BULLETIN) Faced with the difficulty in hailing tricycles especially during late hours and having to contend with rude drivers and drivers who overcharge, a team of Information Systems (IS) student and Information Technology (IT) instructors from the Caraga State University in Butuan City was inspired to remedy the situation by way of  a mobile application called “Transeek”, short for transportation seek. The Transeek app aims to provide a safe and convenient commute around Butuan City and increase the income for tricycle drivers. With just a tap on app, the user can book a ride and Transeek will look for the nearest available tricycle. The app makes use of the internet and smartphones’ Global Positioning System (GPS).  The app will be available for Android smartphone users this year. Its developers, the IS student and team leader Angelito Cagulada, Jr., and IT instructors, Ernest Jay Cubillas and Lemar Arnego, started working on Transeek last year as a startup idea while enrolled in Navigatú – a Technology Business Incubation (TBI) hub funded by Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD). Navigatú, taken from the word ‘navigation' and inspired by Butuan’s Balangay Boats, offers idea incubation program and business skills course for startups in the region. The hub guided the Transeek team in developing the app and its business strategy. Just recently, the project allocated P2,000,000 from investors for funds during its full operation. “We are now on the second round of deliberation with investors and partners, and hopefully we can operate by April or March,” said Cagulada. Improved income  A feasibility study of 100 tricycle drivers in Butuan City showed that the average income of tricycle drivers range from 400 to 500 pesos per day. With Transeek, tricycle drivers can increase their income to more than 300 percent. Transeek’s base fare for a maximum of three passengers per ride will be P30 with a service charge of P5. Drivers will get P25 for every ride from the system. Transeek hopes to decrease delays and standby hours of tricycle drivers in the city. “We have interviewed drivers during ‘toda’ meetings and most of them liked Transeek since they don’t have to waste time roaming around to look for passengers,” said Cubillas. Drivers’ registration to the system will be free. They will be required to apply for insurance which most of tricycle drivers in the city do not have. The Transeek team is among the first batch of “incubatees” together with 6 more teams developing local IT solutions for agriculture and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Facilities such as computer units and administrative functions are provided for free in Navigatú enabling them to develop their startup ideas. “Because of Navigatú, we were exposed to ideation, pitching and marketing activities we never had in classrooms. It helped improve my potentials for business,” said Cagulada.
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