Japan-based IT firm aims to develop new regional model for transportation in PH

MANILA: The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) has chosen the platform of Tokyo-based IT service provider Broadleaf Co., Ltd. entitled “Pilot Project for Smart Mobility Platform in the Philippines” to be implemented by the AEM-METI Economic and Industrial Cooperation Committee (AMEICC) under the FY2020 Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) supplementary budget.

Broadleaf has made Digital Transformation (DX) the central theme of is medium-term management goals from 2021 to 2023. The development of a MaaS (Mobility as a Service) platform will be one of its priorities within this period. The company believes that this kind of platform has a potential to improve people’s daily lives, bridge the mobility gap, and reduce the environmental impact of transportation to people in the ASEAN countries.

Broadleaf also took part in a new public transportation model project in Pasay City, which was launched last year. Broadleaf has already designed a framework for implementing the project and developed the basic system functions. While collaborating with Filipino enterprises, the company realized that the model project met the objectives of the Asia Digital Transformation (ADX) projects, so they came up with the decision to submit a proposal for the program.

Due to rapid urbanization and growing population density, the country faces enormous issues such as chronic traffic congestion and environmental pollution. While the government is encouraging the electrification of public transportation as part of its environmental efforts, there is a pressing need to increase the profitability of the services in order to speed up the deployment of expensive electric vehicles. With its pilot project for the ADX Projects, Broadleaf hopes to use the knowledge it has gained to develop a new regional model for transportation in the Philippines through a partnership with METI, AMEICC, and JETRO.

The pilot project, which will be executed in partnership with the Angat Pilipinas Transport Cooperative (APTC), will include the development of an electronic payment system for cashless transportation fare payments and boarding reservations; the development of an operational management system for visualizing vehicle locations, managing vehicle dispatch schedules, etc.; and the launch of a MaaS platform that merges the Big Data analysis infrastructure gathered from the systems.

APTC is a transportation business cooperative managed by the National Council for Solo Parents (NCSP), a large non-profit organization that helps single-parent households across the country. The proceeds from APTC’s transportation business will be used to fund activities that help single-parent households. Through the pilot project, the group aims to provide job opportunities for members of single-parent households and to decarbonize the transportation sector by promoting the use of environmentally friendly electric vehicles.

Broadleaf firmly supports the NCSP and APTC’s initiatives, particularly their assistance for single-parent households and sustainable corporate practices.

Broadleaf targets to minimize greenhouse gas emissions and traffic congestion through this pilot project. The high versatility of Broadleaf’s cloud-based MaaS platform allows it to be used for four-wheeled and two-wheeled vehicles. Broadleaf believes that the platform will help in the creation of a new regional transportation model. Moreover, its partnership with APTC will help the Philippines address a variety of social issues, such as establishing jobs for single-parent households, while also contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDG).

Photos from Broadleaf Co., Ltd.

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