Davao to launch new bus system Sept to replace jeepneys

DAVAO CITY – The Davao City government announced the new buses it bought from a local contractor are expected to be turned over and subsequently fielded by August or September in a move to offset the much-delayed funding for the experimental bus transport system that would replace traditional jeepneys.

Dwight Tristan Domingo, manager of the Davao City Bus Project, said he was updated by the contracting company AutoKID Truck Solutions that the buses will be delivered to them by August, for turn over to the city by September.

By that time, “our NC3 Bus Driving Tesda-certified drivers will be able to familiarize themselves with the new buses,” said Domingo.

The buses will offer free rides to commuters, especially during peak hours, complementing the commercial buses fielded by the city government.

In April, the city government entered into contract with a city-based truck distributor AutoKID Truck Solutions for 10 Yutong buses. The buses are 12-meter low floor units “designed for convenient passenger use, with modern amenities, accommodating approximately 40 passengers with provisions for standing commuters.”

The cities of Davao and Cebu have been identified pilot areas for the experimental bus transport system to replace traditional jeepneys.

The system forms the core of the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project, originally called High Priority Bus System, which in turn is part of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) conceived back in 2015.

DOTr is being supported by the Asian Development Bank for the program that recommended Davao and Cebu as pilot areas. Funding and implementation delays hounded the program several times, especially during and immediately after the COVID 19 pandemic.

An interim implementation was tested for three routes – the Catalunan Grande area, Toril and Cabantian areas.

Last year, the city and national governments signed contracts for civil works of the project which includes bus stops, bus lanes, depots and terminals but the DOTr said the project had to be postponed due to right of way issues with 32 landowners. The city government believed the postponement was also due to the current political bickerings between the administration and the Dutertes.

The city government has already imposed a one-year franchise term for jeepneys since after the pandemic, expecting an uninterrupted implementation of the bus system. This left a vacuum of 1,000 jeepneys since then, forcing a big number of commuters to be stranded every day.

Recently, Transport Secretary Vince Dizon inspected the city’s transport routes. He said Malacañang supports the bus transport system, assuring that the pilot operation will be in 2027 as instructed by Pres. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.