ISLAND GARDEN CITY OF SAMAL — Police officers were dispatched to the Kaputian Bus Terminal on Saturday, January 4, 2024, after passengers had a heated commotion over available seats.
Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) Mayor Al David Uy confirmed that, alongside the police, the local government has also deployed Task Force Samal to maintain order at the terminal.
Authorities anticipate more passengers in the coming weeks due to the Kaputian District fiesta on January 19. The mayor assured the public that monitoring efforts would continue to prevent similar incidents.
Mayor Uy noted that the decision to add more buses to the route rests with the Bachelor Bus company, which currently operates ten trips daily on the Davao-Kaputian-Davao route. Increasing the number of trips could alleviate seating disputes, particularly during peak travel periods.
The commotion gained widespread attention after a video posted on social media went viral, showing passengers scrambling for seats. Many of those involved were reportedly returning from swimming trips or heading back to Davao City after the New Year celebrations.
The viral post sparked online discussion, with netizens commenting on the competitive nature of Filipino passengers. One Facebook user commented, “Filipinos never back down, never accept defeat, and always want to be first.”
In response to the growing demand, the Igacos local government has urged the bus company to consider increasing the number of trips to Kaputian to ensure smoother operations and a better travel experience for passengers. JPC