Abude said the Peak Hours Augmentation Service (PHABS) buses have already started operating since August 16.
Abude, during the I-Speak Media Forum of the City Information Office, said the PHABS buses operate in Lasang, Toril, Calinan, and Catalunan Grande.
He said these PHABS buses will operate from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
The CTTMO and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) agreed to bring back the operation of PHABS during their final meeting with bus operators, managers, and representatives on August 12.
The city government earlier rolled out the PHABS, but this was suspended because of the Libreng Sakay offered by the city and the LTFRB.
These buses, according to Abude are not allowed to operate without special permit from LTFRB. The agency also provided them fare matrix.
Those bus companies that were given special permits to operate are Golden Valley Bus Lines Corporation for the Lasang-Tionko St. (Central Bank) route; Land Car Inc. for the Toril-Roxas route; and Davao Metro Shuttle for Grand Mall Calinan-San Pedro Cathedral and the Catalunan Grande-Roxas route.
The CTTMO, meanwhile, recommended a Cabantian-Santa Ana Avenue route, but as of Thursday (Aug. 18), no bus company has applied before the LTFRB.
Nine bus units ply the Calinan route. Five to seven buses take the Catalunan Grade route, four to six bus units for Lasang route, and three buses for the Toril route.
The operation of buses for Calinan and Catalunan started on August 16, while the Lasang buses started on August 17. The Toril buses begin plying the route Thursday (Aug. 18).
Abude said the buses will continue to operate until their special permit expires.
Abude said the PHABS operation aims to make sure that people will have a ride home especially during peak hours at night, when utility jeepneys stop plying their routes due to bad weather.
Abude said the CTTMO and the LTFRB are in close coordination for possible adjustments and changes of routes depending on the PHABS implementation. He said they will also discuss PHABS’s operation in the Buhangin and Cabantian route.
Abude further said that his office, other concerned offices, and agencies hold regular meetings to discuss further the implementation of the High Priority Bus System (HPBS) project.
The operation of HPBS is targeted for the fourth quarter of 2023.