Dcott logs over 1,500 daily bus trips during holidays

THE Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (Dcott) reported a surge in bus trips during the peak days of the holiday season, reaching over 1,500 trips per day.

According to Dcott manager Aisa Usop, this marked a significant increase compared to 2023 when passenger numbers were lower on December 24 and 25. 

In 2024, the number of passengers surged, prompting the addition of more buses to accommodate the demand. The daily bus trips exceeded 1,500, translating to over 80,000 passengers per day.

"Our target for our peak days was to have 1,000 to 1,500 bus trips a day, during those days naa peak days natu nga nag exceed gyud tag 1,500 (Our target for the peak days was 1,000 to 1,500 bus trips per day. During those days, we exceeded that target, reaching more than 1,500),” Usop shared in a radio interview on Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on January 9, 2025.

Peak travel days typically occur three days before Christmas and New Year, as well as in the days following. During this time, Dcott normally anticipates handling 1,500 bus trips daily, equivalent to 75,000 to 80,000 passengers.

Usop noted that the passenger volume was unexpectedly high, with lines of commuters extending outside the terminal. However, she said the flow of the line remained fast, thanks to the newly installed baggage x-ray machine. She said the updated machine is more advanced, though smaller than its predecessor.

Bus companies continued to operate on Christmas Day and New Year's Day to cater to passenger needs, adjusting schedules based on demand.

Earlier, on December 18, 2024, Usop projected an estimated 80,000 passengers for the holiday season, exceeding their initial expectations. She also noted that a surge anticipated in November 2024 did not materialize, with the increase in passenger numbers instead occurring in December. RGP