Mayor highlights bus project in his first report to the city
MAYOR Sebastian “Baste” Duterte highlighted the High Priority Bus System, as part of the city’s transport modernization project, in his State of the City Address (SOCA) at the Sangguniang Panlungsod.
The DavaoBus project is an extensive network of 29 routes covering 672 kilometers of roads, with three terminals, five depots, and more than 1,000 stops that aim to connect key areas within Davao City seamlessly.
The three terminals will be in Toril, Calinan, and Bunawan.
“The Davao bus project will employ 1,000 buses including electric buses and a bus driving school, and will be the first integrated bus-based urban transit network system in the country,” Duterte said.
Duterte also said the local government unit (LGU) has committed P1.5 billion for the project.
Along with the project, he also mentioned the recent opening of the Davao City Bypass Road, as well as the ongoing Davao City Bypass Construction Project by the Department of Works and Public Highways, a 2.3-kilometer mountain road tunnel at the central portion that aims at improving mobility between Davao City and Panabo City.
Duterte said it might be a painful transition for all Davaoenos, but the process will make a huge difference in the city’s development when it comes to transportation.
“Ang concern gyud sa tao ever since kay traffic gyud, mao man pud na ang ginalikayan nato mao nato gibuhat ang coastal, bypass, ug Davao Bus Project (The people’s concern ever since has always been the traffic, and that’s what we are trying to prevent),” Duterte said.
The mayor also extended his appreciation to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for supporting the DavaoBus and the recently opened Davao City Coastal Road.
On July 1, President Marcos Jr. witnessed the signing of the $1.710 loan agreement between
Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno and Asian Development Bank Philippines Country Director Pavit Ramachandran at the Acacia Hotel, Davao City.
The National Economic Development Authority approved the project this year for P73 billion.
