LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Citizens of Santa Rosa will soon have access to free transportation through the Toyota Community Shuttle (TCS), following an agreement between the City Government of Santa Rosa and Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) Corporation on November 22, 2023.
The TCS is part of Toyota's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Program which aims to provide free and safe rides to the community.
To use this service, users must first download the myToyota Shuttle PH app from the Play Store for Android or the App Store for iOS.
Once downloaded, users can book a free ride within the city.
Although the myToyota Shuttle PH app is already available for download, the system or server for Santa Rosa residents is not yet available as the free book and ride service will begin in the city this coming December.
Mayor Arlene B. Arcillas and TMP Corp. President Mr. Atsuhiro Okamoto was present during the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing along with City Planning and Development Coordinator EnP. Ermin Lucino, and TMP Corporate Legal Counsel Atty. Rommel Gutierrez.
According to Toyota, five brand new air-conditioned Toyota LiteAce FX vehicles, each capable of carrying up to eleven passengers, will circulate through designated pick-up and drop-off points in Santa Rosa.
Toyota will also manage shuttle maintenance and hire professional drivers to operate them.
Meanwhile, Santa Rosa took the lead in determining the pick-up and drop-off points of the TCS and assisted in geo-tagging activities.
"This project supports the promotion of Santa Rosa as a Smart City. Thank you, Toyota, for helping Santa Rosa with this sustainable and smart transport for our people," Mayor Arcillas expressed.
Santa Rosa aims to transform into a highly urbanized, sustainable, and “Smartest City” in the Philippines according to the Comprehensive Development Plan Vision of the City Government for the years 2023 to 2028.
The implementation of a smart alternative transportation, such as TCS, is consistent with the city's initiative to become a High-level Smart City.
December 1 is expected to be the launching ceremony of Toyota and the City's free book and ride program with the official slogan "Hello, Santa Rosa! Sakay Na!"
This public-private partnership demonstrates once again the City Government's strong relationship with private sectors such as Toyota. (mbgarcia)
