Commuting with care: PGH heroes get the much-needed lift, twice daily
To be a commuter in Metro Manila means being prepared to deal with what has become “the inevitable horrible 3s”—traffic gridlock, grossly inadequate public transport options, and, during the monsoon season, the flash floods. The first two are pains in the neck, but we’ll still be able to go home in one piece, albeit in a haggard state. But the third? Leptospirosis is waving. Oh, and somewhere in those dirty, murky waters are open manholes or sewer drains waiting to literally gobble you up.
Our healthcare workers in Manila who also depend on the public transport system face these kinds of challenges day in and day out. As if the challenges in their workplaces weren’t enough, after long hours tending to the needs of the ill and infirm, healthcare workers have to struggle even more on the streets to get that coveted seat in any available public conveyance. The next day, the commuters’ cycle of struggle begins again, and by the time they reach their workplace, half their energies have been spent jostling for any available space in that bus, train, or jeep.
And if you happen to be one of the 4,800 healthcare workers in the country’s largest and busiest government hospital, the Philippine General Hospital, where hundreds of thousands of patients pass through its doors every year, then those challenges may truly seem overwhelming.
Thus, when the Healthcare Mobility for All (HEAL) Program’s shuttle service was launched this Sept. 15 at the grounds of the PGH’s main driveway, it was as if the employees in attendance were just given a booster shot of serotonin. You could sense the relief in their smiling faces as they excitedly milled around the shuttle vehicles.
For the dozens of PGH healthcare workers who will benefit from this shuttle service, commuting to and from work from hereon will take a radical turn for the better.
Philippine General Hospital Director Dr. Gerardo Legaspi said during the launch ceremony at the PGH Atrium: “No one is ever alone. The movement of PGH healthcare workers serving 700,000 patients a year—these 4,800 people, each one has a story to tell and a lot of those stories have something to do with coming here from their home, and going back.
“I think the HEAL program will make the happier part of that story be told even more because, as our experience during Covid-19 showed, the safety that they felt and of course the comfort that they experienced plus the assurance that people are watching over them in their time of need probably motivated them to come to work every day despite all the hardships,” said Legaspi, referring to the time, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, when quarantine protocols required essential healthcare workers to be shuttled to and from PGH.
The shuttle service program is just one part of a bigger HEAL project of Toyota Motor Philippines Foundation, in partnership with Toyota Mobility Foundation and the PGH. TMPF, PGH and Toyota Mobility Philippines executives are currently in Ternate, Cavite to finalize the next phase of the HEAL project: Providing Toyota Coasters to be transformed into remote mobile clinics.
The shuttle service pilot project for PGH has initially deployed three Toyota Tamaraw utility vehicles, and started operations on the night of Sept. 15. It services the three busiest routes for the PGH workforce: Fairview in Quezon City, Paliparan and SM Dasmariñas via Aguinaldo Highway in Cavite Province. The shuttles will make at least two trips daily—once in late-night and again in early-morning hours, when public transport options are most limited. Each vehicle seats 12 passengers.
The choice to use Tamaraws was deliberate, as Legaspi expounds, “The first thing I asked TMPF was the (ground) clearance of the Toyota Tamaraw for floods. I think it’s 180 mm. That’s good enough.” (The Tamaraw variants’ ground clearances range from 164 mm to 180 mm.)
As far as ride comfort and safety go, the Tamaraw also apparently ticks that box. “I remember one nursing attendant who said that she was so tired going home and coming to PGH so early in the morning that she looked forward to sleeping in the bus or jeep, but she was so scared about waking up and realizing her wallet and phone were gone. So what this shuttle service will also do for them is give them the assurance that they are safe, and that they’ll reach their destination as planned,” said Legaspi.
The PGH shuttle service program will run from September 2025 to December 2026. Later this year, shuttle operations will be enhanced with a smart booking system, allowing passengers to reserve their seats in advance. This digital platform will make the process simple, secure, and efficient, while optimizing routes to pool riders and reduce emissions.
“There’s a saying that movement is life, and part of that is to keep our people moving so that they keep on serving our patients. Of course, these three vehicles alone will not solve the transportation problems of the country, but the most important part is maybe we can show them how to do it, how to plan, execute, evaluate and later on write a research paper on the experience of this initial program. This not only provides vehicles to our healthcare workers, it also ensures what they do here continues, because it’s really a big factor in how we take care of our patients,” Legaspi explained.
Jose Maria Aligada, TMPF president, said: “Mobility+ is about redefining access. It is not just about vehicles or roads, it is about connecting people to opportunities, services, and to each other. What better way to bring this to life than by supporting the mobility of our healthcare professionals, those everyday heroes, through this shuttle service.
“We understand the challenges they face just to get to and from their workplace, especially during late-night or early-morning commutes when public transport is limited. Through this initiative, we are offering them a convenient ride that is safe and reliable, so they can focus on their real work which is caring for others.”
Aligada added, “This shuttle program represents the synergy between our Health and Mobility+ pillars. Using smart, shared, and connected solutions, soon to be enhanced by a digital booking platform, we aim to show how simple innovation can truly serve people. This is not about technology for its own sake, but technology that makes lives better.”
Nanako Kumamoto, TMF Program general manager, said: “HEAL is our joint initiative with the University of the Philippines–PGH and TMPF. Together, we are introducing two solutions and today we are excited to announce our first solution, the shuttle service, designed especially for PGH healthcare professionals in late-night and early-morning hours for making their daily journeys safer, more reliable and less stressful.”
