Davao Public Transport Modernization Project

The Davao Public Transport Modernization Project (DPTMP) or simply the Davao Bus Project and formerly known as the High Priority Bus System (HPBS), is a 672-kilometer bus route network under construction in Davao City, Philippines. This project is part of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).[1][2]

Davao Bus Project
Overview
OwnerDepartment of Transportation (DOTr)
Area servedDavao City and Panabo City, Philippines
Transit typeBus System
Number of lines29
Number of stations1,000
Daily ridership~800,000
Chief executiveTristan Dwight Domingo
Operation
Operation will start2026 (partial)
Number of vehicles1,105 (~400 electric)
Technical
System length672 km (418 mi)

Background

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In 2015, The Asian Development Bank (ADB) was tapped by the Philippine Government to help improve and modernize the public transportation in Davao City pursuant to Philippines Presidential Administrative Order No. 254 series of 2009 for an environmentally sustainable transport for the Philippines.[3][4]

Coordination between the ADB and the City Government of Davao progressed during 2017 during the term of former mayor Sara Duterte. Implementation of the High Priority Bus Project (HPBS) was expected to begin during 2019 with the funding of ADB through an Official Development Assistance agreement.[5] The project also coincided with the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) of country under former president Rodrigo Duterte.[6]

In 2018, the projects target implementation date was moved. The estimated cost of the project then was estimated to be at ₱3.6 Billion courtesy of the ADB, and had only 5 routes in total.[7]

In 2019, the local city government allocated ₱100 Million for the preliminary implementation of HPBS. It was counterpart of the said loan from the ADB. The target year of implementation of the project was set by 2022.[8] With the approval of the National Economic and Development Authority on the project, the budget was expanded to ₱18.6 Billion encompassing 29 routes throughout the city which would be divided into 4 tiers.[9]

In 2020, the project was formally known as the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project.[10] With the outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the implementation of the project was uncertain and put on hold due to lockdowns and resources being diverted to curb the effect of the pandemic. In 2021, the project's full operation date was moved to the 3rd quarter of 2023.[11] An Interim Bus System was launched in preparation to the project.[12]

In 2023, NEDA approved the expansion of the project which saw the budget of the project increase to almost ₱80 Billion. The expected contribution of the local government increased to ₱1.5 Billion throughout the whole project implementation.[13] The formal contract signing happened in July with ADB officials and the Philippine Government led by president Bongbong Marcos[14]

And in 2024, contracts for civil works which includes bus stops, bus lanes, depots, and terminals of the projects were signed.[15]

Routes

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Routes of Davao Bus Project. Posted by former DOTr Secretary Art Tugade.

The HPBS will have a 4-tier system with 12 interchange locations.[16][17]

Metro Davao

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Metro Davao
Route Origin and Destination (vice-versa) Notes
M1 Panabo City ↔ Roxas Avenue
M2 Matina Aplaya ↔ Bunawan
M3 Bago Aplaya ↔ Sasa Port
M4 Toril ↔ SM Lanang
M5 Calinan ↔ Sta. Ana Avenue
M1 (Panabo City ↔ Roxas Avenue)
 
Panabo City
 
Lasang
 
Bunawan
 
Tibungco
 
Panacan
 
 
Sasa Port
 
Agdao
 
Ateneo de Davao University
 
 
 
 
 
City Center
† Diagram not to scale
M2 (Matina Aplaya ↔ Bunawan)
 
Matina Aplaya
 
SM City Davao
 
 
Davao City Hall
 
 
 
 
 
City Center
 
Ateneo de Davao University
 
Magsaysay Park
 
Santa Ana Port
 
Bajada
 
Buhangin
 
 
Francisco Bangoy International Airport
 
Panacan
 
Tibungco
 
Bunawan
† Diagram not to scale
M3 (Bago Aplaya ↔ Sasa Port)
 
Bago Aplaya
 
Puan
 
Ulas
 
 
Matina Crossing
 
NCCC Mall Maa
 
 
Bankerohan
 
 
 
 
 
City Center
 
Gaisano Mall of Davao
 
NCCC Mall VP
 
Ayala Malls Abreeza
 
Bajada
 
SM Lanang
 
Sasa Port
 
Bunawan
† Diagram not to scale
M4 (Toril ↔ SM Lanang)
 
Toril
 
Puan
 
Ulas
 
 
Matina
 
Crossing SM
 
Ecoland
 
 
 
 
 
 
City Center
 
SM Lanang
† Diagram not to scale
M5 (Calinan ↔ Sta. Ana Avenue)
 
Calinan
 
Tugbok
 
Mintal
 
Ulas
 
 
Matina Crossing
 
NCCC Mall Maa
 
 
Bankerohan
 
 
 
 
 
City Center
 
 
Santa Ana Port
† Diagram not to scale

Davao Inter

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Route Origin and Destination (vice-versa) Notes
21 Talomo Proper ↔ Sta. Ana Avenue
31 Calinan ↔ Roxas Avenue
41 Mandug ↔ Davao City Hall
42 Maa ↔ Sasa
43 Langub ↔ Magsaysay Park
61 Acacia ↔ Davao City Hall
62 Buhangin Proper ↔ Roxas Avenue
63 Mandug ↔ Davao City Hall

Davao Feeder

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Route Origin and Destination (vice-versa) Notes
101 San Isidro ↔ Francisco Bangoy International Airport
102 Bunawan ↔ Terminal Sasa Port
103 Tibungco ↔ Panacan
201 Toril Terminal ↔ Mintal
202 Toril Fish ↔ Port Ecoland
203 Bangkas ↔ Mintal
301 Mintal ↔ Calinan
302 Calinan Terminal ↔ Mintal
601 Cabantian ↔ Matina Aplaya

Davao Local

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Route Origin and Destination (vice-versa) Notes
291 Baracatan ↔ Eden
292 Catigan ↔ Tagurano
293 Lumondao ↔ Calinan
294 Carmen ↔ Inayangan
295 Tambobong ↔ Calinan
391 Daliaon Plantation ↔ Toril Fish Port
691 Tugbok Davao ↔ MRP Station

Funding and planning

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The whole project will have an estimated cost of ₱73.37 Billion.[18][19]

Project contract packages

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The planned construction is divided into eight Contract Packages (CP).[20] The Department of Transportation (DOTr) awarded three contracts to China International Water & Electrical Corporation. CP01 is for designing and building Buhangin and Calinan Depot, and for a driving school. CP02 is for Toril Depot and Terminal, and Bunawan and Calinan Terminals. CP03 is for roadworks and pedestrian infrastructure such as bus stops and bus lanes. The CP04 was awarded to China International Water & Electric Corporation which is the contract for Sasa and Sto. Niño Depot.[21]

Contract Packages 5 up to 8 are still on the bidding processes. CP05 deals with the supply and maintenance services for the diesel bus fleet, meanwhile CP06 is for the electric bus fleet. CP07 is for the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). The last package, CP08 is for setting up the Automatic Fare Collection Systems (AFCS).[22]

Issues and criticisms

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For its implementation, various infrastructure must be built such as bus depots and terminal. Several Indigenous People's communities are expected to be affected by the said constructions. It includes IP tribes in the Districts of Baguio, Calinan, Marilog, and Toril in Davao City.[23]

Various transport groups in the city such as PISTON-Southern Mindanao expressed their opposition to the project, citing that it will kill the livelihood of all jeepney drivers in the city.[24] They raised concern on the challenges the project may impose for small operators and drivers in the city.[25]

Despite the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program which imposed consolidation among individual jeepney operators, Davao City is exempted from such consolidation due to DPTMP taking place. Making it the only city in the country to be exempted drew flak from various transport cooperatives nationwide.[26]

References

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  1. ^ Llemit, Ralph Lawrence G. (2024-02-08). "PBBM backs Davao transport project". SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  2. ^ Dela Cruz, Raymond Carl (January 19, 2024). "Davao City not exempted from PUVMP: DOTr".
  3. ^ "Davao Public Transport Modernization Project: Project Preparatory Technical Assistance" (PDF). Asian Development Bank.
  4. ^ "National Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST) Strategy for the Philippines | United Nations Centre for Regional Development". uncrd.un.org. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  5. ^ DXDC 621 Davao, December 7, 2017. "High-priority bus system sa 2019". RMN Network.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Regalado, Edith. "Davao City to phase out jeepneys". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  7. ^ Casamayor, Lyka Amethyst H. (2018-10-04). "5 routes for bus system". SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  8. ^ "Davao City Sets Aside 100-M For Bus System". 2019-08-03. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  9. ^ "NEDA BOARD OKS DOTr's HIGH PRIORITY BUS SYSTEM FOR DAVAO CITY". Department of Transportation. December 5, 2019.
  10. ^ CAGULA, KEN E. (2020-02-19). "Transport sector seeks public support in fight vs jeepney phaseout". Davao Today. Retrieved 2024-08-04.
  11. ^ Dela Cruz, Raymond Carl (August 17, 2021). "DOTr eyes completion of Davao High Priority Bus System in 3Q 2023". Philippine News Agency.
  12. ^ Llemit, Ralph Lawrence G. (2021-03-23). "Davao City launches second bus route". SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  13. ^ Mendoza, Iona Finlay C. (2023-02-08). "Project cost of Davao City's public transport modernization project increases to P80 billion". SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  14. ^ Llemit, Ralph Lawrence G. (2023-07-03). "Mayor Duterte vows improved transpo in Davao City". SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  15. ^ Gascon, Melvin (2024-02-09). "Chinese companies bag contracts for P73-B Davao transport project". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  16. ^ fibratdvo (2023-08-05). "Davao High Priority Bus System (HPBS) (aka Davao Public Transport Modernization) Routes". r/davao. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
  17. ^ "Supply of Buses Contract Nos. 05 and 06 for the Davao High Priority Bus System (HPBS) Project - Bus Fleets".
  18. ^ Lao, Maimona Wanda (2024-06-18). "Davao Bus Project awaits counterpart funds from national govt". Mindanao Times. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  19. ^ Cordero, Ted (2023-07-01). "Philippines, ADB sign $1 billion loan for Davao City public transport modernization". GMA News Online. Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  20. ^ CIO Admin (February 15, 2024). "AVAO BUS TO BEGIN MAJOR INFRA CONSTRUCTION, URGES DOTR TO ENSURE FUND APPROPRIATION".
  21. ^ Amojelar, Darwin G. (2024-02-09). "DOTr awards P73B bus modernization project in Davao City to Chinese firms". Manila Standard. Retrieved 2024-08-01.
  22. ^ "Philippines: Davao Public Transport Modernization Project" (PDF). Asian Development Bank. May 2023.
  23. ^ "Davao's New Bus System To Affect Lumad Communities – ADB". 2022-05-17. Retrieved 2024-08-08.
  24. ^ "Davao City exempt from PUV franchise consolidation with its bus project". www.gmanetwork.com. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  25. ^ Patumbon, Rojean Grace G. (2023-12-27). "Drivers stage protest, strike". SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
  26. ^ Patumbon, Rojean Grace G. (2024-01-17). "Davao City PUVs exempted from industry consolidation of the modernization program". SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved 2024-07-20.