“Nagsugod na mi ug dawat ug franchise applications pero didto sa ruta not in conflict with the Davao Bus Project. Ma-bao-bao man o dili basta naa’y approved route nga dili siya maagian sa bus, mudawat mi ug application,” said Chona Advincula, supervising regulating officer of MVFRD-Division of CTTMO during the I-Speak media briefing on Thursday.
The franchise, however, is limited only to routes not affected by the Davao Bus Project.
The opening of the franchise of the “ongbak” was discussed during the session at the City Council last Tuesday.
Advincula explained that “ongbak” was being added as one of the modes of transportation in Davao City: conventional (sidecar and center car) and non-conventional (ongbak).
“Daghan reklamo nga unsa na lang tung mga ruta nga maagian sa bus pero approved route? Sige man dakop, madakpan gyud sila so nihangyo mi sa board ug sa Davao Bus Project nga they will be allowed for the time being na wala pa nag materialize ang Davao Bus System,” she said.
Advincula said that based on their record, there were 2,915 registered “ongbak” in 2019 wherein there were 2,320 “ongbak” operating.
“Bao-bao man o dili basta naa’y approved route dawat namo siya kasi kanang bao-bao approved na by an ordinance nga as one of the modes of transpo and bao-bao na fall siya under non-conventional,” she said.
Advincula reminded “ongbak” drivers, if approved, to only use the route that they applied in their franchise to avoid apprehension.
“Dapat kung asa sila nag-applay didto lang sila dapat kasi kung mugawas sila sa ruta outside line na sila,” she said.
Eduardo Perez, acting officer-in-charge of CTTMO, reminded that there is a provision prohibiting all Motorized Tricycles-for-Hire (MTH) not to operate along national highways.
“Although, ang DILG MC nag ingon nga allowed sila sa national highway except pud for instances if there is the LGU prohibiting nga bawal sila sa highway. Maskin pa ug wala silay ruta if pang commercial sila wala sila’y pangpasahero na ruta pero muagi sila sa highway dakpon gyud namo na sila ug pag-impound namo pabayron namo na sila,” he said.
With the Davao Bus Project, an extensive network of 29 routes covering 672 km of roads shall seamlessly connect key areas within Davao City up to Panabo City.
A total of 1,105 buses will be plying along these roads, nearly 400 of which will be electric-articulated buses and the rest complying with Euro V standards for diesel-powered buses.
