Young Filipino Developer Creates Train-Tracking App for Commuters

If you’ve ever found yourself standing at an MRT or LRT platform in Metro Manila, unsure of when the next train will arrive, or if it will arrive at all, you’re not alone. It’s a daily struggle for thousands of commuters. One Filipino developer decided he had enough of the guesswork and decided to do something about it.

Joshua Bumanlag, a top graduate from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and now a full-time iOS developer at ING, created Rush PH, a web-based app designed to help commuters track the arrival of trains on LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3. His inspiration came from seeing more advanced systems abroad. “In places like Singapore and Thailand, you’ll see live estimates for train arrivals. I thought, why not build something like that for the Philippines?” he shared in an interview with ABS-CBN News.

The app works differently than most. It doesn’t rely solely on official data, which can be unreliable when trains break down or go off-schedule. Instead, Rush PH is powered by crowdsourced reports. Commuters using the app can submit real-time updates about train arrivals, helping others make better decisions on when to travel.

What sets Rush PH apart is its simplicity. It’s not available on app stores, just open a browser and visit rush-ph.netlify.app. It’s built for mobile and optimized for low-end phones, which makes it accessible even for those with limited tech resources.

Joshua, who has competed in many hackathons, calls this a passion project. He believes focusing on a single pain point, time uncertainty, is what makes the app effective. “Apps with too many features can be overwhelming. I just wanted to solve a specific problem,” he explained.

The app started with data from his personal commute, but it grew into something bigger thanks to the community of users. Now, reports are only accepted from users who sign in via email, which helps filter out bad data. Accuracy has improved, from 77 percent at launch to around 81 percent today.

The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. One heartwarming moment came when a senior citizen asked Joshua about the app while they were commuting together. She later shared the link with her group of friends, calling it “super helpful.” That kind of response, Joshua says, is what keeps him going.

While Rush PH doesn’t generate income, he’s open to placing ads in the future to help cover server costs. For now, it remains free and driven by purpose, not profit.

In the near future, Joshua plans to expand the app to include other modes of transport like carousel jeepneys, the PNR line, and possibly even inter-city routes. He’s also working on a separate app aimed at helping first-time travelers with destination tips and travel challenges.

For those looking to build their own projects, Joshua offers simple advice: “Start with a problem you know well. If you don’t care about it, you probably won’t finish it.”

(via ABS-CBN News)