ON August 8 and 9, we were reminded of the growing public transport problem in Davao City.
On both days, the city experienced heavy rains resulting in flooding in some parts of the city. Aside from the floods, the recent rains have become a nightmare to commuters.
When it rains, especially during and after the peak hours, it is difficult for the commuting public to get a ride home.
In our interviews with some commuters, it could take at least an hour for them to get a ride during peak hours. At times, it is a longer wait after the rain.
"One hour and 20 minutes mi naghulat sa may UM bolton paabot og Cabantian na jeep. Wala man mi masakyan, nagbaktas nalang po kami pa Acacia (Yesterday, we waited for an hour and 20 minutes at UM Bolton hoping to catch a jeepney ride serving the Cabantian route; but, unfortunately we can’t get on any. So, we ended up walking to Acacia)," Shiela Joy Libre, who is an assistant bookkeeper, said, adding that she usually waits for one to two hours to get a ride going to Cabantian.
Meanwhile, Beth Yugur walked from NCCC Victoria Plaza to Gaisano Mall just to get a ride home. While she gets out of work at around 9 p.m., it is already around 11 p.m. or 12 midnight when she is able to get a ride home.
Commuters are worried that as more schools resume face-to-face classes and more workers are returning to their office to work, the commute in Davao City would worsen.
Some of the commuters also pointed out that some routes continued to be underserved by public utility jeepneys. Worse, some jeepneys stop operating after certain hours in the evening when there are still people who need to get home.
Waiting for an hour or so to get a ride to get home or to wherever you need to be is a waste of time. Quality time that should have been spent for productivity or something you need to do. Time that we cannot take back anymore.
Probably, it is time for the city government to review the current capacity of the public transport system in the city. Are the PUJs plying the streets enough to cater to demand? Are there areas that are being underserved?
Some of the things the city could do now is bring back the Peak Hours Augmentation Bus Service (PHABS). It seems like during the pandemic, the PHABS was seemingly suspended. When it was being operated, it served Toril and Catalunan Grande. Should the city bring the PHABS back, it might want to consider other underserved routes like in the Buhangin and Cabantian areas. These areas also have a sizable residential area.
The PHABS would be an effective short-term solution for the city.
The city could also look into the number of public transport on the streets during the peak hours. Maybe it could deploy buses and jeeps for routes that need it the most.
The city might also want to fast track the implementation of the High Priority Bus System as a long-term solution. This would greatly improve the public transport system of the city if implemented efficiently.
Right now, we hope the city will attend to the needs of the riding public with effective short-term solutions because the struggle is real to get a ride to work or home. A simple drive by from Claveria to GMall of Davao would show to our leaders the worsening public transport the city has, especially on a rainy day.