The 21st Davao City Council has approved the creation of a dedicated trust fund to cover the city government’s counterpart for the P73.4-billion Davao Public Transport Modernization Project (DPTMP).
Councilor Danny Dayanghirang, chair of the Committee on Finance, Ways and Means, and Appropriations, said this mark a key milestone toward establishing a fully modernized and reliable mass transport system.
Dayanghirang said the special account will be sourced from the city’s general fund.
He added that the fund ensures Davao City is financially prepared once the Davao Bus Project enters full implementation.
Dayanghirang noted that establishing the trust fund is also a crucial requirement for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) supported initiative.
He said the mechanism strengthens the city’s capacity to meet its obligations as national agencies particularly the Department of Transportation (DOTr) finalize their commitments to the modernization program.
Acting Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte has taken proactive steps to ease daily commuting challenges in Davao City including the procurement of Yutong low-floor buses, which help address the transport needs of nearly two million residents while awaiting national government funding.
City officials said these measures reflect the local government’s determination to deliver a safer, more efficient, and modern transport network.
Last month, Assistant City Administrator and Davao City Bus Project Manager lawyer Tristan Dwight Domingo manifested to the City Council for the establishment of the trust fund.
He said the account under the name of the city government of Davao will be solely earmarked for the city’s P1.5-billion counterpart to the DPTMP.
Domingo added that the trust fund’s approval reaffirms Davao City’s long-term commitment to sustainable urban mobility and secures its financial readiness as one of Mindanao’s largest transport infrastructure projects moves forward.
The DPTMP seeks to replace Davao City’s old and overcrowded jeepney system with a modern, eco-friendly bus network.
Once fully operational, the system will cover 29 routes stretching a total of 672 kilometers.
The network will operate under four service tiers: MetroDavao, the core system linking major commercial districts; DavaoInter, which connects inner urban zones to the central business area; DavaoFeeder, designed to bring passengers from smaller communities to key transport hubs; and DavaoLocal, which will serve outlying rural areas through integrated terminals.
