App-enabled HPG can now act faster on Edsa mishaps

PHOTO by JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS/INQUIRER.net

Authorities hope to keep Edsa clear of traffic buildups caused by accidents with a specially developed mobile application for the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) that aims to reduce the processing time for incident reports to just four minutes.

The Philippine National Police’s HPG on Wednesday received eight touch-screen tablets that run the app dubbed “Parak” or Police Accident Report Kit.

Parak was developed by Galileo Software, a local firm headed by Rodolfo “Jun” Lozada, an antigraft whistleblower during the Arroyo administration.

The app guides the HPG in completing an accident report on the spot—from taking comprehensive photo angles of the vehicles involved, recording other details like the photos of driver’s licenses and signatures, to accomplishing a digitized traffic accident form.

Once completed, the reports would automatically be stored in a database accessible only to Galileo and the HPG. With the tablets

3G-enabled, the reports could also be immediately e-mailed to the parties involved in the accident or to their insurance companies.

The app also has an SOS button which allows the HPG to call the police headquarters, an ambulance or a tow truck.

Hopes are high that the mobile app would help clear Edsa faster of vehicles involved in accidents.

“Before, the investigation and the taking of photos would take up to 15 minutes. With this app, we hope it can take less than 10 minutes. In two minutes’ time, the road can be cleared and traffic can flow,” HPG director Chief Supt. Arnold Gunnacao told reporters.

Lozada was more optimistic. In a statement, he noted that traditionally, processing traffic accident reports may take up to four hours. He estimated that the app could cut that time down from 10 to just four minutes.

Gunnacao said that since the HPG took over Edsa in August, there have been an average of 30 road accidents every day on the major thoroughfare, causing traffic snarls.

“We acknowledge the dedication and sacrifice of HPG in helping solve our traffic problem. We are one with them in finding solution to address congestion on our roads,” Lozada said.

Gunnacao said six of the tablets would be distributed to HPG traffic enforcers assigned at six Edsa choke points,  with the remaining two to be used by roving HPG patrols.

The HPG has ordered 22 more tablets worth P5,000 each for personnel deployed to other areas on Edsa.

Lozada said they were considering developing a similar application for motorists.