CEBU CITY – Key issues affecting the transport industry were tackled during the recent Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) forum here.
BREZHNEV Tero, CEO of Good Transport Solutions Inc. (GTSI), speaks during the recent Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) forum in Cebu City. (Contributed photo)
Organized by Good Transport Solutions Inc. (GTSI), the Bus Revenue Tracker System (BRTS) was introduced to the Cebu-based transport operators, cooperatives, and corporations, alongside key stakeholders from the PTMP.
The BRTS was described as a game-changer in public transport modernization, featuring latest advancements in revenue security and operational efficiency.
“The transport industry has faced numerous challenges, particularly on the ground, where many operators struggle with their daily operations,” said Brezhnev Tero, CEO of GTSI.
Tero said the GTSI, through BRTS, worked to address these challenges by applying science and innovation to improve efficiency and streamline operations.
“Many transport operators were dealing with operational inefficiencies and GTSI recognized that these could be solved by introducing technology. By incorporating scientific and advanced solutions, they created a system that helped both operators and passengers,” said Tero.
One of the key features of BRTS is its ability to track operations on the ground, allowing operators to identify potential revenue leaks by closely monitoring performance.
With live data, it becomes possible to detect if personnel, such as Passenger Assistant Officers (PAOs), are failing to perform their duties as expected.
“This level of transparency ensures that inefficiencies are addressed quickly and operations run smoothly, benefiting both the operators and their passengers,” said Tero.
Ellen Maghanoy, chairwoman of the Cebu Federation of Transport Cooperatives and representative of El Pardo Transport Cooperative, highlighted the value of technology in addressing industry challenges, such as pilferage and fraudulent activities among transport personnel.
Maghanoy welcomed the creation of the BRTS as she emphasized the need for a centralized blacklist system to prevent PAOs and drivers with fraud records from transferring between transport operators undetected.
During the forum, the BRTS and System Portal Demo were presented, showcasing its cutting-edge features designed to provide effective monitoring, revenue tracking, and operational insights.
One of its standout innovations is the People Counting CCTV, a feature that ensures passenger count and fare collection validation, discrepancies, and revenue leakage.
By minimizing pilferage, BRTS can increase revenue by at least P1,000 per day per bus, leading to a significant revenue return for operators.
Clent Allent Prajes, area channel manager of Dahua Technology Philippines, emphasized the critical role of security through People Counting CCTV technology in modernizing public transport.
Prajes said the technology ensures real-time monitoring and efficient operations.
Fritz Co, general manager of Rhino Bus Transport OPC, agreed that BRTS is a game-changer in the transport sector.
"BRTS has given us a level of control we never had before. Revenue losses due to pilferage is easily tracked therefore minimized, and our daily collections have significantly improved. The system’s real-time monitoring and passenger counting feature gives us confidence that every fare is accounted for,” Co said.
Co encouraged all transport operators to also use BRTS “so we can have a unified system and for PAOs and drivers to not have options to transfer from one operator to another while continuing with fraudulent practices leaving them no choice but to uphold the highest industry standards."
Priscilla Cabonita, chairwoman of Lahug Apas Transport Coop that operates over 100 bus units, highlighted how BRTS has improved operational efficiency and is a great help to their command center team making it easy for them to monitor passenger counts and track fraudulent activities in the operations.
“It helps because it's easy to monitor. In an instant, we can easily monitor the performance of the bus, PAO, and the driver,” said Cabonita.
The chairman of the Mandaue Transport Coop also vouched for the effectiveness of the BRTS.
Loreto Gerez Jr. emphasized the seamless integration, ease of use, and tangible financial benefits of BRTS in ensuring secure and reliable fare collection.
“We really saw that the revenue is accurate because we can monitor if the PAOs, conductors issued tickets or not,” said Gerez.
Mira Mae Magdadaro, head of Sales and Implementation of GTSI, assured said the company will continue to collaborate with the transport operators for live demos and further discussion.
Magdadaro reiterated BRTS’s unwavering commitment to transparency, efficiency, and profitability in public transport, particularly among operators under the PTMP.