SIGNING. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (2nd from right, standing) and Vice President Sara Z. Duterte (2nd from left, standing) witness the signing of the civil works contracts for the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project (Davao Bus) during the celebration of the 125th founding anniversary of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) in Davao City on Wednesday (Feb. 7, 2024). Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the project will change the public transport landscape in Mindanao and "serve as a benchmark" for other road projects nationwide. (PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.)
MANILA – The Davao Public Transport Modernization Program (Davao Bus) will transform the public transport landscape in Mindanao, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista said Wednesday.
During the signing ceremony of four civil works contracts for the Davao Bus in Davao City, Bautista said the project will “serve as a benchmark for other urban road projects that aim to radically transform public transport.”
The four signed contracts are for constructing bus terminals, depots, bus lanes, pedestrian lanes, and a driving school and are all part of the Davao Bus program.
“We begin today the metamorphosis of public transport in the whole of Mindanao starting here in Davao City,” he said.
The Davao Bus is a project inspired by the Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) Busway in the National Capital⁷ Region (NCR)—a bus rapid transit system separated from normal road traffic by concrete barriers.
It involves the creation of a core service lane connecting major commercial centers, nine feeder routes, eight routes to inner urban areas, and links between outer rural areas and terminals in Davao City, Panabo City, and Davao del Norte.
With a budget of PHP73.4 billion, the Davao Bus is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
It will create a network of modernized public utility vehicle (PUV) operations across Metro Davao and the region.
It will have 386 electric buses and 531 regular and 188 mini-buses—all compliant with the government’s PUV modernization program.
The Davao Bus’ Contract Package (CP) 01 includes the design and construction of the Calinan Depot, Buhangin Depot, and driving school.
CP 02 also includes designing and constructing the Toril Depot, Toril Intermodal Terminal, Bunawan Terminal, and Calinan Terminal.
The CP 03 involves civil works along bus routes including bus stops, bus lanes, and other pedestrian improvement works while CP 04 involves the design and build contract for Sasa and Sto. Niño Depot.
The Davao Bus is expected to enter partial operations by the fourth quarter of 2025 and full operations by 2026. (PNA)
