One of Mindanao’s biggest bus companies Davao Metro Shuttle Bus Company is now serving the Davao City route as part of the company’s diversification initiative.
Davao Metro Shuttle president De Carlo “Oyo” Uy, in an interview on Monday during the launch of the firm’s brand new bus units that will be serving Davao-Calinan route along Roxas Avenue, said that from serving inter-provincial, inter-city, and inter-regional routes, these new buses will diversify the company’s routes as these would be more of city buses.
“Aside from we look into the possibility of additional revenue for the company, gitan-aw pud namo that this would also increase awareness of our presence in the city and all over the region,” Uy said.
The initial bus units are part of the total franchise of 17 units for the Davao-Calinan route originally owned by Annil Transport Services Incorporated. Davao Metro Shuttle recently bought Annil Transport Services.
These are Euro 5 low entry buses, which means emission is lesser, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, cctv cameras (inside and outside), wi-fi access, and hydraulics features that allows it to tilt towards the pavement and retractable boarding and alighting ramp for the People With Disability (PWD).
“Puwede ni musaka ug mubaba to assist PWDs giving them utmost riding comfort,” Uy said.
With a seating capacity of 49 (excluding driver) the buses will serve Roxas-Bankerohan-Calinan route.
“But there is also standing capacity, depende lang. We will try to look into the possibility, tan-won namo ang demand and acceptability of the passengers if we decide to add units,” he said.
Uy said they are still studying the operating hours of the buses.
“Tan-awon pa namo ug naga- adjust pa mi . Naa mi ginatawag na lean days ug peak hours,” he said.
Uy said these are regular franchises based on the memorandum circular of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-Davao (LTFRB-Davao).He added that this is Davao Metro Shuttle’s way of supporting the government’s modernization program. The bus line has been serving Davao City and Davao Region for 23 years already,
With these 17 units Davao Metro Shuttle has now a fleet of about 300 bus units.
Uy said Davao Metro Shuttle Company is now looking at expanding not just in the Davao Region but in the other regions as well. The bus firm also introduced cashless transaction on the fare collection by using a card fare system for the convenience of the riding public.
