Self-driving buses deployed in New Clark City

Japan-based Zenmov Inc. has launched its smart autonomous bus service in the New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, marking the country’s first publicly accessible self-driving bus using the Smart Mobility Operation Cloud (SMOC).

Dubbed as the Primary Rapid Transit, the new public transportation system will run in select routes in New Clark City, Clark Freeport Zone, and Clark International Airport, operating under a dispatching system based on travel demand data. A demonstration was held on Tuesday.

The initiative is a partnership between Zenmov and MC Transport Operation Inc., which are also set to deploy low-carbon electric vehicles and electric assisted bicycles, along with smart poles, drones, and charging stations for real time data collection.

The firms inked a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) in October 2023, following the memorandum of understanding (MOU) by the BCDA and Japan’s national research and development agency NEDO in January 2023.

“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,” BCDA executive vice president and chief operating officer Atty. Gisela Kalalo said in an emailed statement.

“This will positively transform the everyday lives of those living and working within Clark — making it easier to get around, reducing traffic congestion, and promoting a green and low-carbon environment,” she added.

Under its mandate, the BCDA is tasked to help strengthen the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) while building cities. It also engaged in public-private partnerships to boost public infrastructure such as tollways, airports, seaports, and major real estate developments. —Jon Viktor Cabuenas/KBK, GMA Integrated News