The Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) for the “Project for Establishing an Eco-friendly Transportation System” held its fourth meeting on June 19, 2024, at the JICA Palau Office. The meeting, from 13:30 to 15:30 Palau Time, brought together key stakeholders from Palau and Japan to review progress and discuss future plans for enhancing public transportation in Palau.
Ngiraibelas Tmetuchl, Minister of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism, and Development (MHRCTD), opened the session with expressions of gratitude, followed by Aoki Tsunenori, Chief Representative of the JICA Palau Office, who emphasized the project’s significance and the hope for continued improvements. Seki Yosui, Project Manager from JICA expert Team (JET), showcased a PR clip of the Daytime Bus operation which were launched from Apri 23, 2024 and discussed the current project status.
Operational details and adjustments were addressed by the Palau side. They suggested aligning bus schedules with high-demand periods, improving Night Market bus directions to avoid passenger confusion, and collaborating with hotels for better schedule explanations. The high demand for Night Market buses and their economic benefits were also highlighted.
The JICA Expert Team presented the draft master plan for an eco-friendly transportation system. Discussions included implementing the trunk line bus Master Plan, increasing bus numbers based on demand, and exploring electric vehicles if charging infrastructure is available. A JICA HQ officer, joining online, stressed the need to secure bus drivers before expanding the service for Pilot Project Phase 2.
At present, to expand the level of service of Pilot Project Phase 1, the Palauan side announced the successful securing of another driver for the daytime bus, enabling an expansion of the service level. They proposed ideas such as adding holiday bus routes to major destinations like churches and the Koror to inter-island route to support the mobility of people from other islands.
Community engagement was highlighted with suggestions to promote bus usage through student board game campaigns, a sticker campaign, and PR through mass text messages for faster communication.
The meeting concluded positively, with optimism about the bus service’s progress and potential. Minister Tmetuchl highlighted the project’s ability to bring lifestyle changes, making bus usage common and attracting congressional support. Participants underscored the economic benefits and reduced congestion from public transport, advocating for setting an example and encouraging bus ridership.