Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte bared that a solution for traffic woes in Davao City is already available but just needs to be funded so it can be rolled out.
“Ang solusyon (traffic) naa na, ang pagroll out na lang ang ginahulat. Pareha aning bus system, naistorya naman nato ang Asian Development Bank, nakapag loan nata. Miabot na si Bongbong Marcos, mipirma nila ug kontrata unya karon ginapugngan na nila,” the mayor said in his podcast “Basta Dabawenyo” on Sunday.
The mayor was referring to the High Priority Bus System (HPBS), which is projected to address the traffic problems in Davao City.
The mayor added that even Congress no longer funds HPBS.
“Wala na gi-budgetan ni (Martin) Romualdez,” Duterte said.
The project includes the development of public transport terminals, depots, and a driving school as key supporting facilities of the modern service; 1,119 bus stops; and more than 1,000 new bus.
In July 2023, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. representing the national government and ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa formally signed the budget from the ADB amounting to USD 1,710.78 million signaling the start of the implementation of the Davao Bus Project.
A total of 1,105 buses will travel along the Davao-Panabo highways, roughly 400 of which will be electric-articulated buses and the remainder will meet Euro V criteria for diesel-powered buses. These new buses will have low floors for easy boarding and alighting, fitted with CCTV cameras, wheelchair bays, and reserved seats for pregnant women, mothers with children, and the elderly, stressing passenger comfort, safety, and accessibility.
Duterte said the implementation of HPBS also includes addressing the problem of traffic lights.
“Muingon sila (public) na wala nasulbad ang traffic light. Dili na puwede kay naa ta’y bus system, pag-implement sa bus system kinahanglan calibrated na ang traffic lights sa bus system. It’s not that simple na naa kay traffic light, probably puwede ta mugasto pero naa ma’y City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO),” the mayor said.
“Daghan ug approach anang problema sa traffic. Dili na siya ingon na trapik kay trapik lang tungod kay walay CTTMO. Dili na ingon ana. Daghan ug solusyon nga dungan nimo nga ipanaog, mga polisiya ug balaod ug inprastraktura. Dili na kausa nga ingon na ugma sulbad na dili na ingon ana,” the mayor added.
The mayor cited the opening of the Davao Coastal Bypass Road and the Davao Bypass Road Project to help decongest the traffic in Davao City.
He is also expecting that the completion of the Bucana Bridge will help as well.
“Expect nato nga pag muabri na sa Bucana Bridge, ginahimo pa man nang tulay karon, mag-expect ta nga naa gyud na’y nindot na impact. Let alone ang bypass road, pag naa nang bypass road dako na gyud kaayo na siya, I hope na maluag na gyud ta,” he said.
Despite these hurdles, the mayor remains optimistic that ongoing infrastructure projects, such as those funded through international assistance, will bring relief.
The mayor concluded with a call for understanding, explaining that solutions take time and are part of a larger process to ensure sustainable growth for Davao City.
