VICE President Sara Duterte has expressed disappointment over President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.'s failure to fulfill several campaign promises, particularly the continuation of infrastructure projects under the previous administration's Build, Build, Build program.
In a media interview, Duterte pointed out that one major project—the Davao Bus Project, formerly known as the High Priority Bus System (HPBS)—has stalled. The initiative, part of Build, Build, Build, was intended to address Davao City’s worsening traffic congestion.
“Huwag na tayong lumayo meron tayong big-ticket projects in Davao City tulad ng High Priority Bus System, that is going nowhere na dapat sana ay nagawa na ngayon para nakikita na ng kapitbahay natin (We don’t have to look far. Here in Davao City, we have big-ticket projects like the High Priority Bus System that are going nowhere. It should have been completed by now so that even our neighboring cities could see and benefit from it,” she said in a media interview.
Duterte said she no longer believes the project will be completed under the current administration, stating that Marcos has failed to deliver on his commitment to continue infrastructure development. She said that it’s time to speak out about the administration's shortcomings.
“Time is up. This is no longer the time to stay silent. Someone needs to raise the alarm that the current administration is not delivering what it promised to the people,” she added.
The Vice President stressed that the Davao Bus Project could have served as a model for other cities and provinces, demonstrating that a better, cleaner, and more efficient transport system is possible in Mindanao.
On the same day, May 12, 2025, Duterte cast her vote at a polling precinct at Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School in Matina Crossing, Davao City.
Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation - Project Office for Davao (DOTr-Davao) confirmed in January that the Davao Bus Project is still progressing despite an eight-month delay. Funding has already been secured, although some documentary requirements remain pending.
DOTr Project Evaluation Officer Richard Villanueva acknowledged that delays are common in large-scale projects. He also noted that land acquisition for terminals, depots, and bus stops is ongoing.
Part of the delay was due to the late approval of the project by the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) in 2019. The agency had to revalidate the feasibility study to ensure its relevance, especially in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The project will include an extensive network of 29 routes spanning 672 kilometers, connecting various parts of Davao City and extending to Panabo City. Around 1,105 buses will serve these routes, supported by over 1,000 designated bus stops.
Originally, the bus system was expected to begin operations by the end of 2024 and be fully operational by 2025.
In the meantime, the city continues to run the Peak Hours Augmentation Bus Service (Phabs) and has procured 10 new buses for DCBus to help ease traffic congestion for commuters. RGP