A former jeepney driver developed a mobile app where commuters will no longer have to worry about fare problems such as not having smaller bills or paying from the back end of a jeepney.
Enrique Tan, a public utility vehicle (PUV) driver who used to ply the Novaliches route, decided to develop the DyipPay app during the COVID-19 pandemic to help his former colleagues adapt to automated fare collection technology.
Reports said he didn’t finish college, but he took a six-month software technology course at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
In another feature, Tan revealed that he once got into an accident because he was reaching out for a passenger’s fare while he was driving.
He said that his app enables commuters to pay for their jeepney fares online without the need to look for smaller bills or coins in their bags, provided the driver also has the app.
It also helps ease the worries of commuters at the back ends of the jeepney since they will no longer have to worry about passing their money and looking out for it until it reaches the driver. It also lessens the need to raise their voice to tell their driver about the fare.
In drivers’ cases, it enables them to drive safer because they no longer have to calculate for change while driving or reach out their arm to pass it to the passenger.
“So itong ating solution, cellphone lang, smartphone lang, hindi mo na kailangan mag-abot-abot ng coins,” Tan said to GMA Network’s “24 Oras” on Tuesday, November 28.
“Partikular nung nagkaroon ng COVID-19 pandemic, ayaw natin hawakan ‘yung hinawakan ng iba,” he added.
“Basta public utility vehicle, pasok ‘yan dito sa solution natin,” Tan said.
He added that commuters only need to scan a QR Code on the PUV, which will let them input their departure point and destination. It will then show their fare, which can be paid cashless with a click of a button.
Tan said commuters can also book tricycles like a ride-hailing app in its TrikePay feature within the DyipPay.
The app has gone through the validation testing stage in some provinces in Central Luzon.
However, Tan acknowledges that funding is a factor in getting it off the ground.
He said they plan to launch DyipPay next year.
DyipPay is already available on Google Play.