THE City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) on Tuesday, March 5, held a consultation with jeepney operators and barangay officials, in connection with the additional bus augmentation service for Mintal, Cabantian, and Sasa.
“We have to consult residents of the affected areas before we implement the additional Peak Hours Augmentation Bus Service (Phabs) for Mintal l, Sabastian, and Sasa,” CTTMO chief Dionisio Abude said. CTTMO has recommended at least four bus units to serve each route.
The Phabs was initially implemented for Barangays Toril and Catalunan Grande to address the concerns of passengers, who are stranded during the morning and afternoon peak hours because of the lack of rides.
CTTMO held the consultations after it received proposals for the inclusion of Mintal, Cabantian, and Sasa in the Phabs, as passengers in these areas are also confronted with the same situation as those in Toril and Catalunan Grande.
Abude said the consultations with the affected sectors, including transport groups and associations, are being conducted, pending the approval by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for the additional routes.
“The Sasa route will hopefully be added to address the concern of passengers waiting at points of convergence during peak hours,” he said.
Abude said the proposal to add the Sasa route was based on the observed influx of passengers from the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) during the morning peak hours as they go to the downtown areas for work, school, and other concerns.
A study showed that 52.85 percent or 148 out of 280 passengers travel between the downtown areas and Sasa during the afternoon peak hours.
Once approved, the Sasa Phabs route will serve those from Sasa via Lanang, JP Laurel Avenue, turn right to Quirino Avenue, then turn right to Tionko St., and vice versa). The route will be served from 6:30 am to 9:00 am and from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
The designated bus stops for the Sasa route are:
Morning Peak - Sasa (Davao Integrated Port/Samal Wharf), Old Airport, Cor. Fortune Homes, SM Lanang, SSS, Victoria Plaza, and G-Mall.
Afternoon Peak - Tionko Avenue (Central Bank), G-Mall and Burger King.
Abude said the buses will be allowed to load and unload only at designated bus stops. The fare will be P10 for the minimum distance and additional P2.20 per kilometer thereon.