A closer look at the MMDA's electronic tagging system for buses

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) recently started the testing of a proposed electronic tagging system for public utility vehicles (PUVs) at the Edsa-Orense loading bay fronting the MMDA Building.

^{In this file photo, MMDA chair Francis Tolentino is seen pointing to the part of the bus where a paint tag can be posted. The agency has discarded that project and is now looking at electronic tagging}

Ten MMDA vehicles were used for the demonstration and two electronic tag readers installed at the Edsa-Orense loading bay to determine the proof of concept of the electronic tags.

MMDA chair Francis Tolentino said activity was requested by bus operators pushing for the use of electronic tags in lieu of the PUV paint tagging scheme implemented by the agency last year.

Representatives from the different transport groups also attended the event.

“The agency is reconsidering the use of electronic tags, particularly for public utility buses (PUBs), as one of the technological solutions to solve traffic problems along Edsa. The concept has many facets, but this will particularly revolve around the perennial problem of overstaying buses on the loading bays,” Tolentino said.

Under the concept, a passive electronic tag will be placed in a registered bus. The tag is associated with a computer database containing identification records of the bus unit such as its LTO and LTFRB registrations.

When the electronically tagged bus enters the loading bay, a green light will signal that it is detected by the system and the countdown timer begins.

The system can detect if the bus has exceeded the allowed 25 seconds and the green light will turn to red to visually inform the driver that he is overstaying.

This, in turn, will generate a report to the database, allowing authorities to issue a violation ticket and determine which bus companies are persistent violators.

The measure is expected to reduce the number of buses in transit along Edsa at any given time and lessen queuing at bus stops, thereby alleviating congestion and increasing the travel speed. — Newsbytes.ph