The 10 new buses procured by the city government of Davao for the Davao City Interim Bus Service (DC Bus) arrived at the Davao City Bus Garage located inside the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) in Ecoland on Tuesday.
The ten 12-meter low-floor Yutong ZK6126HG buses are designed for convenient passenger use, with modern amenities, offering seating for approximately 50 passengers along with provisions for standing commuters.
Lawyer Dwight Domingo, Assistant City Administrator for Administration and Project Manager of the Davao Bus Project, credited the initiative to acting Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte and the city officials who continue to push for improved public transport services.
“Through the initiative of Mayor Baste Duterte and our city leaders, I am happy to inform everyone that the 10 buses procured by the city government have arrived. These will begin operating for free on designated routes, hopefully by the middle of November,” Domingo told the media.
According to Domingo, the specific routes and bus stops will be announced within two weeks through an information dissemination campaign. The buses will initially operate during peak hours — from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 or 10:00 p.m.
Domingo added that 22 drivers have been undergoing daily training for more than a month and will continue familiarization sessions with the new units in the coming weeks.
“Our drivers need to get used to the actual buses — from operating buttons and safety mechanisms to emergency procedures and braking systems. They will continue test runs to ensure safe and efficient service,” he said.
He also said that data on passenger volume will be gathered during the initial operations to help the city fine-tune schedules and optimize the use of the buses during peak hours.
“We have a passenger counter, and from that, we will get data to determine the most effective schedule for the buses,” Domingo added.
Domingo, however, clarified that the free bus service is only a temporary measure to help ease the city’s transport challenges.
“This will not fully solve our public transportation issue because the real long-term program is the Davao Bus Project, which will require around 800 to 1,000 buses operating all over the city. But these 10 buses are a good interim solution for the people of Davao,” he explained.
Domingo said the city is also coordinating with the City Council to craft an ordinance setting rules and regulations for the operation of the city-run buses to ensure proper implementation and public compliance.
The newly procured DC buses are in addition to the existing units operating under the Peak Hours Augmentation Bus System (PHABS).
“The goal of Mayor Baste Duterte is to integrate all of these under one project, the PHABS,” Domingo said.
He explained that private bus operators currently part of the PHABS program will continue to operate alongside the newly acquired city-run buses.
He said the integration aims to streamline operations, improve service efficiency, and establish a unified public transport system for Davao City.
The new city buses are part of Davao’s broader effort to modernize and make public transportation more efficient, accessible, and environmentally friendly for commuters.
