THE City Government of Davao will put in place next week the “designated stops” for public utility vehicles (PUV) passing through the entire stretch of A. Pichon Street (formerly known as Magallanes Street).
Engineer Froilan Rigor of the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) said the experimental scheme will start on Tuesday, November 15.
Rigor added the scheme intends to modify and train the riding habit of the commuters, stressing that largely the riding public affects the attitude of the PUV drivers.
CPDO head Ivan Cortez also told reporters the initiative will be implemented first at A. Pichon Street but will be replicated in all traffic generator areas in the city including Gaisano Mall of Davao along J.P. Laurel Avenue (Bajada), Abreeza Ayala Mall and NCCC Mall in Matina.
“Next week will be experimental first, this is an initiative of our city mayor (Sara Duterte-Carpio) because she had noticed yellow box junctions here are not honored and observed anymore,” he said, adding that this is one of the projects born out of the mayor’s activity – roaming around the city almost every day.
He underscored that “designated stops” for PUV will somehow ease traffic and promote discipline for both drivers and passengers.
The pilot area will have six designated stops. Signages will also be installed along A. Pichon Street.
Violators who will then be caught will be reprimanded but no ticket citation will be implemented as it is still experimental.
The lady mayor, Cortez said, is currently commissioning a transport planner to create a holistic approach in solving the worsening traffic problem in the city.
In the plan, the city will integrate the recommendations of the Davao Sustainable Urban Transport Project conducted Asian Development Bank (ADB) and UP Planades.
Under the scheme, public utility vehicles are required to strictly unload and load passengers from corner Anda Street and Pichon Street, near Grand Menseng Hotel.
The scheme will also be applied in front of NCCC Mall in Matina for PUVs going south and Maa areas.
The scheme grouped PUVs according to routes:
South 1 Group or S1 Routes: Calinan, Tugbok and Mintal
South 2 Group or S2 Routes: Bago, Aplaya, Pangi
Unloading and Loading Area: In front of NCCC Mall
Allied 1 or A1 Routes: Jade Valley, Buhangin via JP Laurel, Bajada
Allied 2 or A1 Routes: Ecoland, Matina Crossing, Talomo, Ma-a, Agdao, Matina Aplaya
Unloading/Loading Area: In front of Grand Menseng Hotel
Maa 1 or M1 Routes: Maa, Magtuod, Langub
Unloading/Loading Area: Beside NCCC Mall, Maa Road
Circulatory 1 or C2 Routes: 01A, Route 01B, Route 05B, Route 09, Route 15
Circulatory 2 or C2 Routes: 02, Route 03A, Route 03B, Route 10
Unloading/Loading area: In front of Magallanes Elementary School.
It is expected that the scheme will also be implemented in other areas in Davao.
