Application of Integer Programming in Maximizing of Public Utility Bus Passengers during COVID-19 Pandemic in Select Bus Stops in Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA)

Commuting is a natural occurrence for many Filipinos, students, and workers alike. However, this comes along with a string of burdens., as public transport has always been an issue in the country., along with heavy traffic congestion., that truly affects the commuting life of many., and this only worsened with the pandemic. Even before then., several routes have already been maximized by the citizens to further the public transportation system we have., such as the Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue., or more commonly referred to as EDSA., which is the focus of this study. It aimed to give possible solutions to lessen the number of passengers at the bus stops located at the EDSA route. The researchers used an optimization model to arrive with a solution that will be able to maximize the reduced passenger capacity of public utility buses imposed by the General Community Quarantine guidelines released by the government. An Integer Programming model was specifically utilized by the researchers to come up with the results. The results of the study showed that each of the bus stops may have different passenger capacity each day. Some have a big capacity., while others increasingly have a smaller capacity. Several measures such as recommending passengers to move to bus stops with larger capacities, or assigning traffic enforcers to strictly monitor bus stops to maximize the passenger capacity of each public utility bus and at the same time., remain safe during this time of pandemic are presented in this study.