IT WAS exciting to hear when the City Government announced that it will be implementing the Peak Hours Augmentation Bus Services (PHABS) to cater to stranded passengers in underserved areas.
From 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Dabawenyos living in Toril and Catalunan Grande have the option to ride buses on their way home. There are bus stops at designated areas in the city for those who need to go down along the way.
Despite the need for some to stand, the ride to these places is still comfortable. The buses are air-conditioned and quite spacious, which gives commuters a comfortable ride.
However, City Government officials have repeatedly said this is not a precursor to the planned High Priority Bus System (HPBS) of the city.
At present, the City Government is still working on the implementation of the HPBS. Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio earlier said she is 50 percent positive that they can start the implementation of the bus system this year.
But Davao City assistant city administration for operations lawyer Tristan Dwight Domingo said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has expressed hesitation over Davao City's HPBS. The agency wants to implement the same type of system in the country but Domingo said this kind of strategy may not work for all cities and towns.
For many of us commuters, we are hoping that the system will be in place soon in the main roads of the city. With buses plying the main roads, the number of public utility jeepneys (PUJs) will be reduced. If the system is effective, it could reduce the number of people using private vehicles.
An effective bus system may also attract more people to visit and do business in the city considering that this will allow them to smoothly travel from one part of the city to another.
It is high time for Davao City to have an effective bus system. Lots of sacrifices will have to be made for all those who will implement the project and those affected by it. But these sacrifices will benefit the city in the long run.