AN OFFICIAL from the City Government of Davao announced that the Davao City Interim Bus Service is expected to begin operations in Davao City this October.
Lawyer Tristan Dwight Domingo, acting city administrator and Davao City Bus Project manager, said they are aiming for the buses to be operational as soon as possible, following a directive from Acting Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte due to the worsening traffic congestion in the city.
“Siguro early end of September or October mapadagan na gyud tung napulo ka bus (Maybe by late September or October, those 10 buses will finally be operational),” he said in a radio interview on Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDCR) on Thursday, July 17, 2025.
He added that, based on their monitoring, the new buses are expected to be shipped to the city by August or September this year. He also hopes that by then, Tesda-certified drivers will already be familiar with the units.
Domingo said the buses will only operate during peak hours, as that is the schedule applied for with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), based on demand and studies showing that the majority of passengers use Public Utility Jeepneys (PUJs) during those times.
Another reason for limiting the bus service to peak hours is to avoid competition with PUJ drivers.
He also revealed that even though the interim bus service will be operational, the Peak Hours Augmentation Bus Service (PHABS), which is a temporary measure to ease traffic congestion, will continue to run.
He said both PHABS and the interim bus service will run simultaneously to assist the commuting public.
Domingo emphasized that the interim bus service is a city-led initiative, as the full implementation of the Davao Bus Project will still take some time. The city was able to procure these buses to support the daily commute of Dabawenyos, particularly during peak hours.
He clarified that while the project aims to help decongest the city’s roads during rush hours, it is not a permanent solution to its traffic problems.
According to Domingo, it is the full-scale Davao Bus Project, which involves the procurement of around 1,000 buses to replace PUJs, that will significantly improve public transport and traffic flow in the city.
To recall, a ceremonial contract signing between the city government and AutoKID Truck Solutions was held on April 21 for the acquisition of 10 Yutong ZK6126HG buses. These low-floor city buses are part of the DC Bus Interim Service, which features modern amenities and accommodates around 40 seated passengers, with additional space for standing commuters. RGP
