The Davao City government and AutoKID Truck Solutions formalized their partnership on Tuesday with a ceremonial contract signing for the Davao City Interim Bus Service.
The agreement, led by Tristan Dwight Domingo, Project Manager of the Davao Bus Project, and Kevin Yao, CEO of AutoKID Truck Solutions, secures the procurement of 10 units of 12-meter low-floor Yutong ZK6126HG buses. These buses are designed with modern amenities to ensure passenger convenience, offering seating for approximately 40 passengers and provisions for standing commuters.
Domingo emphasized that the acquisition of these buses aims to address the city’s current transportation challenges by providing an interim solution. He noted that the initiative stems from delays in the larger Davao Public Transport Modernization Project, also known as the Davao Bus Project.
In 2023, Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte directed the team to expand and formalize the city’s Peak Hours Augmentation Bus Service (PHABS), which was introduced in 2019 and has since grown with additional routes and bus units. Domingo explained that data from PHABS operations highlighted the need for dedicated buses to serve the public more effectively.
Following this directive, the city allocated funds for the procurement of the 10 buses and the necessary amenities to ensure their efficient operation and maintenance. Domingo revealed that the buses are expected to arrive in September, with operations slated to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.
Earlier this year, Mayor Duterte disclosed that Congress had ceased funding transport projects in Davao City, including the highly anticipated High Priority Bus System (HPBS). The HPBS project, designed to alleviate traffic congestion, includes the development of public transport terminals, depots, a driving school, 1,119 bus stops, and over 1,000 new buses.
The HPBS fleet is set to include 1,105 buses, with approximately 400 electric-articulated buses and the remainder meeting Euro V standards for diesel-powered vehicles. These buses will feature low floors for easy boarding, CCTV cameras, wheelchair bays, and reserved seating for pregnant women, mothers with children, and the elderly, prioritizing passenger comfort, safety, and accessibility.
Davao City Third District Representative Isidro Ungab confirmed that Congress had removed the budget for the HPBS project this year, despite its endorsement by the Development Budget Coordinating Committee and the signing of a loan agreement with the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Ungab, a former chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations, expressed disappointment over the budget cut, which hampers the city’s efforts to modernize its public transport system.
