Davao Public Transport Modernization Project set to start next year

DAVAO, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will start next year the implementation of its P18.66 billion project that seeks to modernize public transportation in Davao.

The DOTr said the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project, which was approved by the National Economic and Development Authority board last Friday, is scheduled for implementation from 2020 to 2023.

The project targets to provide an efficient and affordable mode of transport for the people of Davao and will be funded through an official development assistance.

It will have three components namely, public transport system improvement, institutional capacity strengthening, and social development program.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the project would help spur and sustain development within and beyond Davao City.

“The DPTMP will give Davaoeños and visitors a very efficient mode of transport as it maximizes service coverage that will accelerate economic growth. Growth and development, after all, should cover not just Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao,” Tugade said.

A modern High Priority Bus System (HPBS) will serve as the project’s public transport system improvement component.

The HPBS will involve the provision of hierarchical, interconnected bus services along major arterial roads, as well as extensive network of feeder services covering the entire urban area.

Once operational, the DOTr said the HPBS will have 29 bus routes, divided into four tiers.

The four tiers are Metro Davao which will form the core services that connect all major commercial centers along the five routes, Davao Inter which will run along eight routes connecting the inner urban areas directly to the Davao Central Business District, Davao Feeder which will run along nine routes linking smaller centers and areas of more dispersed populations to the Metro Davao services, and Davao Local which will provide a link between the outer rural areas of the city and main transport system or the integrated terminals.

Meanwhile, the DOTr said the project’s institutional capacity strengthening component would involve the provision of support in the planning, implementation, regulation, and monitoring of the public transport system operations, including training of personnel.

The project’s social development component will involve the provision of support for the transitioning of the current public transport providers and those employed in the sector during the implementation of a modern HPBS in Davao City.