THINGS may be looking good for the plans of the city to shift the mode of mass public transport from jeepneys to buses.
The Davao City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) reported that 52.14 percent of the 10,328 individuals who availed of the free bus rides during the Kadayawan Festival celebration said they are willing to pay more than the usual jeepney fare for comfort and safety.
The survey also showed that 76.4 percent said they are in favor of making the bus public transport within Davao City.
The recent survey is quite clear that many Dabawenyos have had it enough being packed like sardines in jeepneys and suffer intense heat during the day or getting wet when it is raining.
Aside from the current state of public transport for commuters, the jeepneys are also causing bottlenecks along the streets of Davao due to the lack of proper jeepney stops. With a bus system, the city will have designated bus stops, which may reduce traffic bottlenecks.
Also a bus is equivalent to two or three jeepneys; therefore, resulting to less vehicles on the street and reducing traffic.
We remain excited for the future of public transport in Davao City. With more people coming to the city, there will definitely be a higher demand for public transport. Thus, the city will need these buses to cater to the demands and needs of the public.