EXPECT more additional inter-provincial bus trips within Davao Region, an official from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-Davao Region (LTFRB-Davao) said.
LTFRB-Davao Director Armand Dioso bared this after his office announced additional bus trips in 12 routes between Davao City and the provinces of Davao de Oro and Davao Oriental starting Wednesday, June 10.
These routes include Davao City to Monkayo; Davao City to Nabunturan; Davao City to Maragusan; Davao City to Laak; Davao City to Pantukan; Davao City to New Bataan; Monkayo to Davao City; Nabunturan to Davao City; Maragusan to Davao City; Laak to Davao City; Pantukan to Davao City; and New Bataan to Davao City.
However, the schedule of the trips on these routes has yet to be determined.
This is on top of the approved bus routes traveling between Davao City and provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao de Oro, and Davao del Sur following the resumption of the bus trips within the region on June 1.
Dioso said LTFRB-Davao continues to coordinate with different local government units (LGUs) to allow the operation of provincial bus trips in their areas.
"Gradual kini nga pagdungag [bus routes and trips], depende kana siya sa approval sa LGUs (We are adding more bus routes and trips gradually because we rely on the approval of the LGUs). But we are in constant coordination every day," Dioso said.
Despite the resumption of the public mass transportation from one general community quarantine (GCQ) area to another, in accordance to health standard set by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), the LTFRB official said it is a struggle to normalize the resumption of bus trips considering the ongoing threat of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).
Dioso said neighboring LGUs are only accepting a few passengers from Davao City, which is the Covid-19 hotspot in the region due to the significant number of cases.
"Although supportive man pud atong LGUs sa [resumption] of public mass transportation. Ang ilaha lang gina-control is ang health issue (They support the resumption of public mass transportation but their concern is the health safety)," he said.
Davao City's GCQ extension is set to end on June 15. However, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said in a radio interview on Wednesday, June 10, that the IATF-EID has not yet recommended whether to extend it or to shift to modified GCQ.
Once the city will be placed under modified GCQ, he said there is a possible increase in bus trips traveling outside the city. But, he also emphasized that this would still depend upon the approval of the LGUs.
Meanwhile, he said bus operators still need to secure a special permit even under the modified GCQ since the country is still under the state of a public health emergency.
On June 8, the bus trip between Davao City to Bansalan in Davao del Sur was launched. Travel from Davao City to Bansalan is at 7 a.m., while Bansalan to Davao City is at 11 p.m.
On June 10, LTFRB-Davao launched the Davao City to Buda (Bukidnon-Davao) bus route with scheduled departure time between 5:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Bus travel between Davao City and Davao Occidental also resumed on June 10 via Davao City to Malita. Routes from Davao City to Malita will depart at 7 a.m, while Malita to Davao City will depart at 1 p.m.
Dioso advised the riding public to observe health standard protocols such as wearing face masks and observing social distancing.
Buses are only allowed to cater 20 to 25 passengers, while the starting point of the bus trips in the city will be at the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal.
The City Government reminded authorized persons outside residence to secure a medical certificate as part of the health screening protocol. Travel authority is no longer required.