Davao City has taken a significant step toward modernizing its public transport system with the arrival of 10 brand-new buses under the Davao City Interim Bus Service (DC Bus). The units arrived Tuesday at the Davao City Bus Garage inside the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) in Ecoland.
The 12-meter Yutong ZK6126HG low-floor buses, each equipped with air-conditioning and modern amenities, can seat around 50 passengers and accommodate standing commuters — a welcome addition to ease congestion during peak hours.
Lawyer Dwight Domingo, Assistant City Administrator for Administration and Project Manager of the Davao Bus Project, credited the initiative to Acting Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte and city officials for pushing forward the city’s transport improvement agenda.
“Thanks to the leadership of Mayor Baste and our city officials, the 10 buses procured by the local government have finally arrived,” Domingo said.
“These will begin offering free rides on designated routes, hopefully by mid-November,” he added.
The new buses will operate during peak hours — from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. — to help decongest major routes. Specific stops and routes will be announced in the coming weeks as part of a public information campaign.
Domingo emphasized that 22 bus drivers have been undergoing intensive training and familiarization runs with the new units for over a month.
“They’re learning everything from safety systems to emergency procedures. Our goal is to ensure safe, efficient service from day one,” he said.
Initial operations will also include data gathering on passenger volume through onboard passenger counters. Domingo said this will help the city adjust schedules and deploy resources more effectively.
“This data will allow us to fine-tune schedules to match actual commuter demand,” he noted.
Domingo clarified that while the free service is only a temporary measure, it is a crucial step toward the city’s long-term public transport plan.
“This won’t fully address our transport challenges. The real solution is the full Davao Bus Project, which envisions deploying 800 to 1,000 buses across the city. But for now, these 10 units are an important start,” he said.
The city is also working with the City Council on an ordinance to establish rules and regulations for the operation of the city-run buses to ensure safety and public compliance.
The new DC buses will complement existing units under the Peak Hours Augmentation Bus System (PHABS). Domingo said the ultimate goal is to integrate all services under a unified transport system.
“Mayor Baste wants to bring everything under one roof through the PHABS program. Private operators will continue to run alongside these new units as we work toward more streamlined, efficient service for all Davaoeños,” he explained.
The addition of these buses reflects Davao’s broader commitment to building a more reliable, accessible, and environmentally sustainable public transport network.
