PUBLIC utility jeepneys (PUJs) operating in Catalunan Grande to Roxas Avenue and C.P. Garcia Highway to Sasa will soon be phased out as Davao City will soon be implementing the Davao Integrated Bus System (Dibs).
City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) head Dionisio Abude said the Dibs will be transitory bus system implementation toward the High Priority Bus System (HPBS).
HPBS is one of the city projects that aim to modernize the transportation system of the city and address the growing need for mass transit system to solve traffic congestion.
Abude did not mention as to when Dibs will be implemented, but he said the routes mentioned above were among the six routes identified and underwent series of consultation.
"Sa pagkakaron, anaa nami sa stage para sa costing sa waiting shed and sa mga bus lanes, which is ang City Engineer's Office (CEO) ang naka-assign niana (We are on the costing stage for the waiting shed and bus lanes, wherein CEO is assigned)," he said Thursday, May 30, during the iSpeak media forum at the City Hall of Davao.
He said about 440 drivers and operators (400 in Catalunan Grande route and 40 in C.P. Garcia Highway route) in the first two routes will be affected once Dibs will be implemented.
But Abude said livelihood assistance is being eyed to be given separately to the drivers and the operators.
"Wala man sila opposition (drivers and operators). Gusto lang nila mahibal-an pila ihatag sa ila nga compensation (They are not opposing. They are more concerned on the compensation that will be given to them)," he said.
As to the fare concern, Abude said passengers are willing to pay higher fare in the Dibs/HPBS, based on the survey they conducted to the riders of the Peak Hours Augmentation Bus Services (Phabs), an augmentation bus system deployed on areas Toril and Catalunan Grande.
He said 90 percent out of the 1,200 respondents said they are willing to pay additional fare once the HPBS will be deployed.
Phabs, however, is not a pilot-test to the HPBS.