With fuel prices still putting pressure on daily commuters, many Filipinos have started reconsidering how they get to work. One solution that keeps popping up is carpooling, but coordinating rides through messy group chats and massive Facebook groups isn’t exactly stress-free. That’s where the new Filipino platform Kasamatch comes in. 8List.ph spoke to the creator behind the site to learn how it works, what makes it different, and why it might just be the commuter tool we need.

Kasamatch is creating a better carpool community

Kasamatch is a new web-based platform designed to make organizing carpools more structured, private, and user-friendly. The name is a portmanteau of the words “kasama” and “match”.

Created by Filipino developer-turned-IT manager John Mauricio, the platform was born out of a very familiar frustration: the rising cost of gas and the chaos of trying to arrange rides in crowded messaging threads.

“Like a lot of people right now, the rising fuel costs got me thinking about carpooling instead of driving to work every day. That’s how Kasamatch started—initially just for our village—to give people a simple, user-friendly way to organize carpools,” Mauricio told 8List.ph.

But while carpooling itself wasn’t new, the way people were coordinating it left much to be desired.

“I wanted something more convenient, where people can just log in, check available carpools, and directly message drivers. No spam, no flooded group chats—just straight to the point,” said Mauricio.

How Kasamatch works: From sign-up to finding a ride

Kasamatch keeps things intentionally simple and deliberately closed off. After registering, users won’t immediately see listings. Instead, they need to be invited to join a group first.

“When a user registers on the website, they’ll see a message saying they need to join a group before they can view or post carpools. Right now, there’s no option to search for groups or post outside your own—by design. The idea is that you should personally know the group owner or admin before joining,” explained Mauricio.

You can join multiple groups—say, one for your office, one for your neighborhood, or even one for a fandom—but you’ll only see carpool listings within those circles. If you don’t have one yet, you can start your own and invite people directly.

Once inside a group, users can either offer rides or look for one. If someone’s interested, they can contact the poster through the app’s built-in private messaging. For privacy, users only see each other’s nicknames or usernames.

The platform also keeps data collection to a minimum. The only personal info required is an email for registration.

“What makes my platform different is the use of private groups. To get in, the admin should personally know you before adding you, which adds an extra layer of trust and safety,” says Mauricio.

Kasamatch currently has 800 users and counting. Mauricio also stressed that the platform is free and always will be, since it’s his “small way of helping kababayans during this ongoing energy crisis.”

A mobile app, and possibly women-only filters, are on the way

Mauricio’s passion project is currently fully browser-based, but that may soon change.

“Aside from technical improvements and making the site faster, my next update is to build a mobile app for the platform… due to strong demand, I’m planning to bring it to iOS and Android as well,” he said.

Another feature under consideration is a filter that would allow users to find or offer rides specifically for women.

“I’m also considering adding a filter where users can choose to see listings specifically for women, for those who feel more comfortable joining or offering rides within that group—but I’m still thinking it through,” he shared.

A bigger vision of fixing commutes in the Philippines

Beyond helping a few communities save on fuel, the long-term goal for Kasamatch is far more ambitious: improving how Filipinos move around cities where traffic is a daily reality.

“I’m really rooting for this platform to take off. I hope it becomes a go-to for commuters and drivers alike, especially given how tough things are right now,” says Mauricio.

He also sees potential for collaboration with public institutions: “I also hope the government gets behind projects like this. I’m more than willing to work with them to ensure everyone’s safety and make sure we’re playing by the rules. Old problems need modern solutions, and this is one of them.”

Whether Kasamatch becomes a niche tool for small communities or scales into something bigger, it taps into a very real commuter pain point: the need for cheaper, safer, and more organized ways to get from point A to point B in a country where daily travel can feel like a full-time job.

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