Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) Manager Aisa Usop reported on Thursday that DCOTT’s income in 2024 reached P52,763,980.
Usop attributed this to the massive influx of passengers during the holidays last month.
“Our target was P38 million but in the month of November, naka reached nata ug P48 million. For 2024 we reached P52,763,980,” Usop said over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR).
Usop said the target was 1,500 bus trips a day during peak days last month, however, there were days that bus trips a day exceeded more than 1,500 which was equivalent to 80,000 to 100,000 passengers per day.
“Ingon ana ka daghan ang pasahero last month. Until now daghan gihapon ug pasahero sa DCOTT pero maayo gihapon ang flow ug dili sila matanggong sa sulod sa terminal kay makasakay sila derecho,” Usop said.
Usop also expressed gratitude to the Task Force Davao and other men in uniform as no untoward incidents were reported in DCOTT despite the influx of passengers last month.
“Ang na-confiscate nila kay mga sharp objects nga wala giputos ug tarong and no reports of pickpocketing incidents. Kung ingon ani kadaghan ang pasahero dapat kita mismo magpolice sa atong sarili,” she said.
Meanwhile, Usop shared the plans and projects to be implemented and are being implemented in DCOTT for 2025, and among them is the ongoing construction of the additional comfort rooms in the southbound area.
She said the construction of the comfort rooms has an approved budget of P2.3 million from the city government of Davao.
Usop said when completed, the use of the said comfort room is free of charge.
“I requested for the construction of additional comfort rooms in the southbound. Karon na nag start na ang construction sa southbound area. Those passengers going to Cotabato-Digos, GenSan and Marbel for free ang comfort room. P2.3 million ang budget sa comfort room. The public comfort room is very important for the travelers and it is for free,” she said.
Another project is the improvement of the drainage system with an approved budget of P5 million and the renovation of an old building to a multipurpose building with a budget of P15 million.
“So far, mao pa lang na nakuha nako na update for 2025 in terms of infrastructure projects for DCOTT,” Usop said.
Earlier this month, the city government of Davao turned over a new baggage x-ray machine to DCOTT to further strengthen the safety and security of passengers going to and from the city.
The new baggage scanner was installed in the passenger entrance of the terminal and is now operational.
The machine has a capacity of around 150 to 200 kilograms and can detect both organic and inorganic materials including those that are not allowed in the terminal such as sharp objects, firearms, ammunition, and other illegal objects.
It is also faster than the old scanner in the passenger entrance which is currently not functioning.
“We are very happy and thankful to the City Mayor’s Office (CMO). Nagpasalamat ko kay gi priority nila ang DCOTT nga dinha gibutang ang bag-ong naabot na x-ray machine nga high tech ug colored na kay ang old kay dako pero black and white lang,” Usop said.
