AN INTERIM bus system is being planned for implementation within the year by the city government of Davao together with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) while the financial aspects and loan packages of the High Priority Bus System (HPBS) are still being finalized.
Assistant City Administrator Tristan Dwight Domingo said they are currently working closely with DOTr for the implementation of an interim bus system in Davao City that will be helpful for them to see how the Dabawenyos will receive or view the particular bus system.
“Before the year ends, the plan is to have certain new routes or existing routes also wherein these HPBS will be operating. Whatever it is the types of buses or operations of the HPBS, hopefully we can see some aspects of it being utilized as we see buses running within the year,” Domingo said during the press conference on the IM4Davao Infrastructure Development Plan at Marco Polo Hotel on Tuesday, April 24.
He said DOTr is now just waiting for the particular routes that the city government will be interested to run via the interim bus system in the city.
Domingo added the previously announced project implementation in 2019 may not be possible as specific considerations such as loan packages and routes are still needed to be considered.
“We’re now planning the financial aspects of this and the loan packages for this particular implementation with the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Hopefully within this year, all of these necessary computations, financial considerations that we have to determine, we can now formally proceed (with),” he said.
Earlier, ADB Philippines Country Manager Kelly Bird said there is a US$70-million worth of budget loan for transportation modernization in Davao City. The amount, he said, will include other technical necessities such as establishment of bus stops, bus terminals to be located in five to six different locations, and lightings.
Davao City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) head Ivan Cortez also said the buses that will be used for the HPBS will include free Wi-Fi use and comfortable spaces as well as modern card payment methods. One bus will have a capacity of about 50 to 110 passengers. The bus rate, he said, is expected to be around P28 to P40 depending on the destination.