IN A bid to cater to commuters in underserved areas, seven buses have been deployed by the city as part of its Peak Hours Augmentation Bus Service (PHABS).
The buses are currently serving the Toril-Roxas Avenue and Catalunan Grande-Roxas Avenue routes.
Reception for the PHABS has been positive with commuters praising the convenience and comfort they get from the buses.
This is not the first time the city employed a bus system to cater to the needs of Dabawenyos. During the celebration of the Kadayawan Festival last year, the city offered free bus rides to the public in a bid to help them get to areas where Kadayawan activities are happening. This too received positive feedback.
Davao City is presently in the process of modernizing the public transport system in Davao City with its High Priority Bus System project. However, the project is experiencing delays becuase details have yet to be properly ironed out. For example, some of the program's aspects are different from public utility vehicle modernization plan that the Department of Transportation wants to implement nationwide. However, the city has assured that within the year they will start with the implementation of the program.
As more people are seeking opportunities in Davao City and more subdivisions are being located in the suburbs of the city, there is a growing need for a better public transport.
Jeepneys that are currently plying the streets will not be able to fully cater to the transportation needs of the commuting public.
The city needs a public transport system that will take large groups of people from one place to another. The buses are just the right kind of public transport the city needs. The buses are comfortable and able to transport a big group of people without taking much space.
While an icon, it is time for the jeepneys to retire or serve smaller routes in the city. They take up too much space on the streets and can only transport a handful of individuals.