According to Davao City Bus Project manager, lawyer Dwight Tristan Domingo based on their recent communication with the supplier the buses will be delivered by August and are expected to arrive in September of this year.
“We are hoping that sometime end of August or September muabot ang mga bus (buses will arrive) then by that time our NC3 Bus Driving TESDA-certified drivers will be able to familiarize themselves, part pud sa ilahang (part of their) training how to operate these 10 new buses,” Domingo said during a radio interview.
“Earliest September or October (2025) mapadagan na jud ang napulo ka bus (the ten buses would be running.),” Domingo, who is also the current assistant city administrator, said of the expected operations of these buses.
He said the city government is fast-tracking the project to help alleviate the burdens of the commuters.
Domingo said the buses will be able to provide free rides to Dabawenyos particularly during peak hours. These 10 units of buses will complement the Peak Hours Augmentation Bus System (PHABS) consisting of privately owned buses, deployed by the city during the morning and afternoon to early evening rush hours.
“Kaning napulo nga buses sa city libre ni siya gamay ni siyang tabang nato ni sa pasehero na maglisud uli, maglisud adto sa mga opisina o eskwelahan sa buntag.” Domingo said.
(These 10 buses of the city will be offered free as this is a small help to passengers who find it difficult to go home, find it difficult to go to their offices or schools in the morning.)
He tempered expectations of the new units as these buses will not cure the transport problem as these are just 10 units. The High Priority Bus System or the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project involves more than 1,000 buses.
The Yutong ZK6126HG buses which were purchased by the city government from a P100 million supplemental budget is a 12-meter bus with a seating capacity of 40 passengers with provisions for standing commuters. It is equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS), bike racks, CCTVs, monitors with buzzers.
These new buses will operate only on peak hours. “Majority of the passenger ridership in the city is always on the peak hours,” Domingo said.
He added these buses will not run during off-peak hours as they do not want to compete with public utility drivers currently plying the city routes and affect their income.
DIBS
A city government led initiative, the Davao Interim Bus System or DIBS is seen also as a measure to prepare the city in the full-implementation of the P73.4 billion Davao City Bus Project.
“We’re looking at this as a practice or test case sa tanan (for all),” Domingo said.
“This is a practice for the city government on what to really expect or how to operate the bus system,” Domingo said. (PIA/RGA)