Pedi App, a homegrown local ride-hailing platform born in the streets of Tagbilaran, Bohol, is giving tricycle drivers new earning opportunities while offering commuters a fairer and safer way to travel. This year, Pedi App joined in Geeks On A Beach (#GOAB) 2025 in Mactan, Cebu, where innovators, founders, and investors came together to celebrate Philippine startups making an impact from the ground up.
“At first, the idea was simple — could we help drivers earn more by becoming guides or even local real estate scouts, since they know the towns and barangays better than anyone? This was the idea of my co-founder Feliciano “Doy” Agta, a real estate businessman and son of a tricycle driver,” saidReagan Loberternos, Pedi App CEO and Co-Founder. Pedi App
“When I came on board with co-founders Christian Lugod and Erwin Saycon, the idea evolved further. To address the problem facing commuters who have to haggle and feel overcharged, especially in tourist areas, we thought of building a platform that could regulate fares while ensuring drivers still earned a fair remuneration,” said Loberternos.
A researcher and entrepreneur, Loberternos brings intellectual depth, credibility and longevity to the startup. He holds a Master’s degree in Material Sciences at the University of the Philippines and previously served as a Research Fellow at the UP Condensed Matter Physics Laboratory.
Empowering Bohol’s tricycle drivers and commuters
Development of Pedi App began in 2021, and it was launched in Tagbilaran City in September 2022. Since then, the app has attracted 22,000 registered users and has over 400 active drivers.
Most passengers using the app are locals. However, there is a growing number of tourists, especially foreign visitors facing language barriers, who rely on the app for its transparent fare system. For drivers, the platform can provide an additional income of ₱800 to ₱1,000 daily by completing just 10 bookings, helping to supplement their traditional street hires.
“Unlike transnational ride-hailing companies, Pedi App was developed entirely by a local team,” said Loberternos. “That allows us to quickly customize features for each municipality and better understand the social and economic realities on the ground,” he added.
All drivers undergo training and must present a valid driver’s license and franchise before being onboarded. The app enforces standardized fares, and commuters can report overcharging or misconduct, which can lead to penalties or suspension.
Expanding beyond just rides
The app is now expanding beyond just rides. It is piloting several new features, including Pedi Xpress for deliveries, PediPay for digital transactions, and Pedi E-Ticket for ferry and transport bookings.
Discussions are underway to launch in Dumaguete by the end of the year. The franchise-style system will allow local operators to manage front-end services while Pedi provides the technological infrastructure. There has also been interest from partners across Southeast Asia and as far away as Denver, Colorado.
There are challenges to overcome: some tricycle drivers remain hesitant to adopt smartphones, while others are concerned about competition within the app. However, positive impact stories continue to emerge—such as those of drivers who have steadily increased their income and a disabled government employee who now relies on Pedi App for daily mobility.
For Loberternos and his team, the long-term vision is clear. “We see the Pedi App not just in Bohol, but in other parts of the Philippines, in Southeast Asia, and every place where tricycles and tuk-tuks are a part of daily life,” he said.
A community behind Pedi App
Pedi App’s journey is not only a testament to innovation but also to the supportive community that nurtured it. The startup is part of the Bohol Island State University Technology Business Incubator (BISU TBI) in Bohol, which provided essential guidance and mentorship during its early stages of development.
When GOAB was held in Bohol in 2023, the Pedi App team applied and was accepted as volunteers. This experience inspired them to continue growing. Two years later, Pedi App returned to GOAB not as volunteers but as participants.
This year, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Bohol invited and sponsored the team’s participation in GOAB 2025, highlighting the increasing support for Bohol’s startup ecosystem.
Pedi App’s innovation has also garnered international recognition, with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) featuring its creative use of technology to empower local transport.
About Geeks on a Beach
Geeks on a Beach is the Philippines’ pioneering beachside international tech and startup conference, launched in 2013. Known for its unique blend of serious conversations in a fun, laid-back environment, GOAB has connected thousands of entrepreneurs, investors, developers, creatives, and policymakers. Over the years, GOAB has helped catalyze deals, investments, and partnerships that continue to shape the Philippine and Southeast Asian startup landscape.
This year’s GOAB was held on October 1-3, 2025, at JPark Island Resort Hotel in Mactan, Cebu. It is organized by the non-profit group geeksPH with the support of its foundational government partner, the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT).