Davao City mulls high-priority bus system

DAVAO CITY – The local government here has outlined plans for the development of a high-priority bus system in Davao City, and emphasized that it will create more jobs aside from giving existing players steady income.

The City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) disclosed that a rough outline of the project has already been drafted, just days after Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio revealed that the Davao City government was inclined to adopt a highpriority bus system.

The project will be undertaken in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which could provide the city the necessary funding.

But CPDO chief Ivan Cortez, in an interview, said that the loan will not only be for the purchase of buses.

The proposal includes the acquisition of road rights of ways in areas where the network would be expanded, as well as infrastructure improvements where necessary, especially for terminals located at corners.

Cortez said the city has around 7,199 units of jeepneys.

This number includes 6,849 units plying intra-city routes, while the rest are inter-regional franchises, such as those plying the DavaoPanabo route.

Each bus in the new system aims to replace around three to five jeepneys on the streets, thus reducing traffic.

The plan will also include jobs for drivers and operators who will be affected by the program.

Under the new system, transportation players can avail of multiple jobs under a more structured transport system.

Transport players include operators, drivers, conductors, even barkers can be part of a larger transport network with jobs such as clerks, mechanics, ticket attendants, among others.