The Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) is partnered with the Global Electric Transport (GET) Philippines in order to give Filipinos access to the Community Optimized Managed Electric Transport, which is creatively named “COMET.” What COMET is is a shuttle service program that offers commuters electric minibusses to ride that are air-conditioned, fully electric, and don’t belch plumes of smoke every time they go.
Each COMET shuttle bus is also equipped with onboard cameras, with a travel range of over 100 kilometers on a single charge. These minibusses are also equipped with a media system, display monitors, internet connectivity, as well as accommodations for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) thanks to a retractable ramp, and a slot in the passenger area. Of which, the cabin space of each COMET shuttle is capped at 30 occupants at a single time.
As such, the LRMC will add the COMETs to their fleet of vehicles in order to help passengers go to areas outside of the LRT-1 line. After disembarking from the train, passengers may then immediately hop onto a COMET in order to get to their destination.
This initiative was borne from the partnership with GET, and the initiative will first start by covering LRT-1 EDSA to Manila Bay, Aseana route, and back. COMETs will load and unload passengers along Macapagal boulevard to the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX). These busses will operate from 4:00 AM, all the way to 10:00 PM from Monday to Saturday. Holidays will not be included, however.
From March 30 to April 17, 2022, the COMET busses will be free to ride an unlimited number of times provided that the passengers have the GETPASS App on their smartphone.
Up next, another route will include the Makati Central Business District (CBD), the route of which is to be announced and the pilot date of implementation is also to be announced.
