Authorities in the northern Philippines have introduced a digital ride-hailing platform for tricycles, marking a push to modernise one of the country’s most common forms of public transport through technology and research partnerships.
The Tuguegarao City Tricycle Riders Information Security and Satisfaction Enhancement Application (TC-TRISSEA) was officially handed over to the city government of Tuguegarao following a collaboration between St. Paul University Philippines (SPUP), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the local government.
Officials said the initiative aims to improve commuter safety, driver accountability, and service efficiency, while promoting trust between drivers and passengers in a sector that remains a vital yet largely informal part of daily urban transport across the Philippines.
Enhancing trust and efficiency in public transport
DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr said the new app could help rebuild confidence in local transport systems by integrating transparency and real-time monitoring.
“Trust is built, and we hope this app can strengthen the trust between drivers and passengers,” Solidum said in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency.
He added that the project highlights the importance of collaboration between national and local governments, academia, and technology experts in addressing transport and mobility challenges through innovation.
“We at DOST will continue to support innovations like this so they can be used by Filipinos for a more progressive, better, and more comfortable way of life,” he said.
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Digital monitoring and passenger feedback
The app’s developers said TC-TRISSEA functions similarly to larger ride-hailing platforms, allowing commuters to book tricycle rides securely through a smartphone interface.
Project lead Maria Visitacion Gumabay said the platform includes features such as route tracking, driver verification, customer feedback, and a fare-monitoring system that displays trip distance and cost in real time.
The DOST said the app’s launch underscores the government’s effort to integrate digital innovation into everyday systems, particularly in smaller urban centres outside Metro Manila.
As the TC-TRISSEA platform becomes operational, officials hope the model could serve as a prototype for other cities seeking to digitalise local transport services and improve transparency within the informal public transport sector.
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Geoffrey H. Latayan 
Vivien Bernardino