Background
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]
On August 10, 2015, a Project Preparatory Technical Assistance (PPTA) was approved for the HPBS project and became effective on February 15, 2016. Later that year, the Project enlisted the GHD Pty. Ltd. to undertake the consulting services of the PPTA.
Coordination between the ADB and the City Government of Davao progressed in 2017 during the term of former mayor Sara Duterte. In 2018, GHD Pty. developed the first iteration of the Social Development Program (SDP) report, which subsequently led to the approval of the HPBS project by the National Economic Department Authority (NEDA) Board. [5]
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. [6] The project also coincided with the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) of country under former president Rodrigo Duterte. [7]
In 2018, the project's target implementation date was moved. The estimated cost of the project was also estimated to be at ₱3.6 Billion courtesy of the loan from ADB, and had only 5 routes in total. [8]
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. [9] With the approval of the National Economic and Development Authority on the project, the budget was expanded to ₱18.6 Billion, with 29 routes throughout the city and is divided into 4 tiers. [10]
In 2020, the project was formally known as the "Davao Public Transport Modernization Project". [11] But with the outbreak of the COVID-19, 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 again moved to the 3rd quarter of 2023. [12] An Interim Bus System was launched in preparation to the project with routes to Toril and Catalunan Grande. [13]
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. [14] The formal contract signing of the loan agreement happened in July with ADB officials and the Philippine Government led by president Bongbong Marcos [15]
In 2024, contracts for the civil works of the project which includes bus stops, bus lanes, depots, and terminals of the projects were signed. [16] However, the project has been hounded with postponements caused by right of way issues concerning 32 landowners. [17]
In 2025, former DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon’s inspected the project’s Bus Driving Academy site in Calinan District, in line with the President’s directives to fast track the highly anticipated project. The DavaoBus Driving Academy will be the first of its kind in the Philippines. It aims to professionalize public transport driving, ensuring safer roads for both commuters and motorists. [18] In August 22, he also confirmed that approximately 60% of the necessary ROW has been secured since the groundwork began in March, with efforts underway to finalize the remaining 40% within the year. [19] The DavaoBus is set to start its pilot operations in 2027 with full implementation to start in 2028. [18]
Project contract packages
The planned construction is divided into eleven Contract Packages (CP). [23] 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 the joint-venture of China Wu Yi, Fujian Construction and Engineering, and Vicente Lao Construction, which is the contract for Sasa and Sto. Niño Depot. [24]
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). [25]
The rest of the CP are for consultancy services. CP09 is for the General Consultant, CP10 is for Systems Administration Consultant, CP11 is for Evaluation and Monitoring Consultants for Resettlement and the Social Development Program. [26]
Issues and criticisms
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. [27]
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. [28] They raised concern on the challenges the project may impose for small operators and drivers in the city. [29]
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. [30]
DC Bus (Davao City Interim Bus Service)
In 2021, an Interim Bus System was launched in preparation to the project with routes to Toril and Catalunan Grande. [13]
In 2025, the City Government of Davao is set to acquire 10 units of Yutong ZK6126HG low-entry buses to serve DC Bus. It will initially cover 7 routes in the city. it will have features such as GPS, CCTVs, TV screen, and bicycle racks among others. Each unit costs ₱9.9 million, funded through the City's Supplemental Budget No. 3, FY 2024. [31]
