Tuguegarao City now has tricycle booking app (Will this solve the practice of ‘capacity’?)

Tuguegarao City, Cagayan- Traveling around Tuguegarao City, Cagayan just got easier and smarter with a new tricycle booking mobile application created by Saint Paul University Philippines (SPUP) in partnership with the local government.

The app, called TRISSEA (Tricycle Riders Information Security and Satisfaction Application), aims to solve common problems commuters face when riding tricycles in the city.

The Cagayan Provincial Information Office reported that many commuters have voiced concerns about tricycle rides—whether it's safety, unfair fares, or long waiting times.

With that,  SPUP’s research team, led by Dr. Maria Visitacion Gumabay, developed TRISSEA as a digital solution.

"Dahil nga po dito sa concerned citizen's concern natin sa safety, service quality, tsaka itong ating driver's accountability and fare transparency, nag-isip po ang research team ng Tuguegarao kung paano po kami makatulong gamit ang teknolohiya para naman na po mag-adopt na tayo ng modernong technology sa atin, said  Gumabay in his interview with CPIO-TeleRadyo.

What the app offers?

TRISSEA is now available on the Google Play Store. Both passengers and tricycle drivers can use the same app. They simply need to log in—either as a user (passenger) or a rider (driver).

The app offers real-time tracking of tricycles and passengers, clear information on the tricycle’s color and body number, fare transparency based on the city’s official rate matrix, protection from illegal or “colorum” tricycles, and safer rides with registered and verified drivers.

The app will be managed by the Tricycle Regulatory Unit (TRU) of the Tuguegarao LGU, ensuring that all rides are properly monitored.

Before it was first introduced to the public on December 20, 2024, the app was tested by selected Tricycle Operators Drivers Association (TODA) presidents. The tricycle drivers and commuters have positive feedback after using it, which helped the developers to further  fine-tune the system to make sure it works well for everyday use.

Meanwhile, Mayor Maila Ting-Que praised those behind the creation of the app. She called TRISSEA a milestone in the city’s digital transformation.

The mayor also highlighted the vital role of tricycle drivers in the community, calling them the “lifeblood” of Tuguegarao.

Some, nevertheless, ask whether this can answer the longstanding issue of tricycle drivers asking for exorbitant fees like double pay or asking to pay for the whole capacity of the tricycle.