Privacy Policy

Effective October 24, 2026 · Applies to the Byaheng Ponte Android app and byahengponte.com

Byaheng Ponte is a barangay-to-barangay commuter guide for Pontevedra, Capiz, made as a BS Computer Science thesis project at Capiz State University – Pontevedra Campus. You only need an account to contribute routes; the app has no ads and no analytics or tracking, and we do not sell or share personal data.

Accounts

You can browse routes, use the map and read the offline instructions without an account. To contribute a route you need one. If you create one, we store only your username and a securely hashed version of your password (never the password itself); no email, phone number or real name is asked. Your username is shown publicly on routes you contributed ("Contributed by @username"), so don't use your real name if you prefer not to. Signed in, you can see your own submissions and their status on any phone. You can change your password or delete your account anytime in the app (Contribute → Account). Deleting it removes your account; routes you contributed stay in the app, credited to "Former contributor".

Your location

With your permission, the app uses your phone's location only while the app is open, to:

• show where you are on the map,
• find the barangay nearest to you so the right instructions are shown, and
• guide you during in-app navigation.

To draw a route from your location, the app sends the start and destination coordinates to our server (byahengponte.com) and to the free OSRM routing service (router.project-osrm.org), which returns the road route. Our server does not save these coordinates. The app never uses location in the background, and you can turn location off at any time; you can then choose your starting barangay instead.

The map

The map is provided by Google Maps. When the map is shown, your phone loads map data from Google, and Google's Privacy Policy applies to that. The "Open in Google Maps" button opens Google's own app or website.

Route contributions

When you contribute a route, the app sends what you typed (barangays, instructions, transport, fare, landmarks and transfer details) to our server, where an administrator reviews it. If you are signed in, the submission is linked to your username (an account is required to contribute). We do not ask for your name or contact details, so please don't include personal information in your contribution. Approved instructions are shown to all users.

Data stored on your phone

The app saves approved route instructions, the barangay list, your settings (language and voice) and, if you sign in, your username and a sign-in token on your phone so they work offline. This data is not backed up to the cloud, and it is removed when you uninstall the app or sign out.

Voice directions

Spoken directions use your phone's built-in text-to-speech engine, in English. No audio is recorded.

Server logs

Like most websites, our hosting provider (Hostinger) keeps standard technical logs such as IP addresses and the pages requested, for security and troubleshooting.

Your rights

We follow the Philippine Data Privacy Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10173). If you have questions about this policy or want a contribution removed, contact the developers through Capiz State University – Pontevedra Campus.

Changes

If this policy changes, the updated version will be posted on this page with a new effective date.