Ever imagined hopping on a bus without a driver?
You might have heard of self-driving cars or buses in other countries—well, the Philippines now has its very own first self-driving bus rolling through New Clark City, Clark Freeport Zone, and Clark International Airport.
Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) pointed out that this project works toward making New Clark City the first sustainable city in the Philippines.
This was a product of the partnership between Japanese tech company Zenmov, Inc. and local firm MC Metro Transport Operation through a memorandum of understanding with the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), which will fund the self-driving vehicle demonstration program until June 2025–-representing a major innovation in the transport system of the country.
Since the autonomous bus is at its early stage, commuters can still ride it for free! According to the BCDA, “riding the first self-driving bus is free of charge until the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board advise the parties on fare collection.”
The BCDA explained that the bus service uses a transportation cloud system called Smart Mobility Operation Cloud (SMOC). This system ensures high operational availability while reducing the number of vehicles required.
In line with this, Zenmov and MC Metro plan to roll out bikes, set up smart poles and charging stations, and use drones to gather and share real-time traffic data, improving overall traffic management.
Furthermore, the Primary Rapid Transit will serve as a “last mile” service, operating on select routes in New Clark City, Clark Freeport Zone, and Clark International Airport all while utilizing the SMOC.
BCDA Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Gisela Kalalo shared, “We can definitely learn a lot from Japan’s advanced and innovative transport system. By integrating their smart autonomous vehicle technology, we ensure a more sustainable and scalable transport solution here in Clark.”
The project aims to enhance daily life in Clark by making it easier to get around, reducing traffic congestion, and promoting a green and low-carbon environment.
