The Davao City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) said it has finally addressed the primary concerns of the underserved commuters in Catalunan Grande and Toril District after the Peak Hours Augmentation Bus Service (PHABS) started operating for 24-hours last week.
CTTMO chief Dionisio Abude, in an interview, said the new extended service of PHABS was officially implemented the last week of August after the Land
Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) 11 issued a new memorandum circular, granting permits to bus operators plying Catalunan Grande and Toril District, to operate 24/7.
It was recalled that Abude’s office submitted on June 27 the recommendation to LTFRB to make PHABS operate 24 hours which will serve as a pilot test for the soon-to-rise Davao Integrated Bus System (DIBS).
Abude, meanwhile, said the initiative to make PHABS operate overtime came from the sentiments of underserved commuters in the chosen areas.
CTTMO in coordination with the City Administrators Office conducted series of surveys last June to ask residents and commuters if are they in favor of making the bus augmentation operate not only during peak hours.
“Nakita sa survey nga majority sa mga commuters gusto sa bus as transportation ug gusto sila mag operate 24 hours,” said Abude.
Initially, the implementation of PHABS in Davao City was supposedly until the end of March this year.The special permit issued by the LTFRB was only designed until March but the public’s demand for additional transport caused to extend the bus augmentation until it was fully implemented to operate 24-hours.
Just recently, a post from a concerned commuter in Catalunan Grande circulated on social media which was addressed to the Public Utility Jeepneys drivers in the area for being “inconsiderate.”
“Stranded diri sa Catalunan Grande Terminal. Shout out lang po, sa mga drivers sa jeep. Palihog hatagi pud mig konsiderasyon ang mga pasahero pa downtown. Almost 2 hours na me nag hulat, daghan kaayo jeep muagi sa terminal pero ang byahe pa Bangkal lang ug pasaka kay ulan ug traffic daw. Hatag sad mog kaluoy sa amoa nga naa diri sa terminal. Kabalo man me na kamoy mag buot kung mubyahe pa mo o dili tungod sa panahon pero hatagi sad me ninyog gamay nga kaluoy,” the post stated
Some commuters, however, believe that the extended service of PHABS will somehow reduce the hassle in waiting for public transport.
