Traffic is crazy in the Philippines and navigating Philippine roads can grant you a severe migraine. If only there was an app to avoid road traffic. MPT Mobility, a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), has a breakthrough app that simplifies and combines all the features that motorists will be needing to efficiently plan their trips (especially around high-traffic areas). Featuring RFID reloading and balance checking, toll fee computation, and roadside emergency assistance, the app has become a go-to for smart traffic navigators. We got in touch with MPT Mobility's assistant vice president for operations Gines Barot, who shared more about the app and how it can help both locals and foreigners in the Philippines. The disruption and mobility restrictions brought about by the global pandemic made us [MPT Mobility] realize that there is a real opportunity to enhance economy-wide competitiveness and productivity through digital platforms that will enhance the overall customer experience, particularly in transportation and trading – both of which are key drivers to economic growth. This has led to the inception of MPT DriveHub to provide motorists ease and convenience while traveling to their destinations. MPT DriveHub's purpose is to elevate the whole driving experience through key features that will help motorists save time, be well-prepared, and feel safer on the road. Key features include: + Tap and Track RFID Reloading - once you reload (anytime/anywhere), it will ensure that you don't become the 'cause of delay' at the tollgates, affecting other motorists behind you. + RFID Balance Inquiry - knowing your balance ahead of time lets you know whether you are good for the day/week or need to reload. + Real-Time Traffic Advisory - Knowing the traffic conditions enables you to adjust your departure time and route, allowing you to navigate high-traffic locations better. Currently, most features are free and are designed to enhance the customer experience, especially in major expressways. Should there be fees, we ensure this is kept at a minimum and affordable level for our users to enjoy. This goes back to MPT Mobility's mission of shaping the roads for the future by harnessing the power of insightful data and digital mobility solutions. Providing better mobility solutions to motorists has always been at the core of our work. We design and implement these solutions with end-users in mind, ensuring that the app features are streamlined to what will be helpful for the majority. If there's a demand to include traffic navigation, that's something we can look into. However, at this point, we're not here to compete with Waze and Google Maps but rather to complement the overall digital experience of motorists. Finally, how has your experience at Grab contributed to MPT DriveHub? Note: For context, Gines previously headed Grab's retail operations in the Philippines before joining MPT Mobility. Not just with Grab. My overall experience in the tech field has instilled a valuable, purpose-driven mindset in me, and that is to think big in ways to improve people's lives through innovative technologies and solutions. Working for MPT Mobility, I am quite fortunate that my passion for developing smart and sustainable solutions is matched by other creative thinkers who share a common goal of upgrading the digital infrastructure in the country – starting with an app that will bring back the fun and convenience of traveling. Woman in Philippines Finds Online Lover Through Duolingo, Ends Up Marrying Him Philippines artist makes art with his own blood, the results are shockingly beautiful Outer space mementos: This small rock is the 7th Meteorite to land on Philippines soil Cover image sourced from OneNews. ph . .