Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon announced the revised timeline after inspecting the construction site in Calinan District, where the flagship “DavaoBus Project” is currently underway. Originally expected to begin partial operation by the fourth quarter of 2025 and full operation in 2026, the project had been hampered by delays over the past two years.
Shifting gears after setbacks
“The President is really disappointed with the delays,” Dizon said during the site visit. “He instructed us to fast track this project. We need to stop making excuses and start solving problems, because this project is a game changer and it will serve as a model system for the entire country.”
The DavaoBus system—a 672-kilometer, high-quality bus-based network—will cover key areas from Catalunan Pequeño to Ulas, Bangkal, Matina, Bankerohan, Quirino, Bajada, Lanang, Buhangin, and Sasa. Once operational, it is expected to significantly modernize and streamline public transport across the city, offering commuters a safer and more efficient alternative to the current fragmented system.
The project is backed by a $1-billion funding from the Asian Development Bank.
Bus Driving Academy to ensure passenger safety
As part of the preparation for its eventual launch, the government will also establish the country’s first-ever bus driving academy under the project. The DavaoBus Driving Academy aims to professionalize public utility vehicle (PUV) driving, elevating safety standards and training requirements for drivers.
“Tapos na ‘yung mga panahong atras-abante lang ang training ng mga driver natin,” Dizon said. “Kabilin-bilinan ng Pangulo, dapat lahat ng magmamaneho ng mga bus dito sa DavaoBus ay may sapat na training para masiguro ang kaligtasan ng mga pasahero, pati na mga motorista sa kalsada.”
(“The days of on-and-off, inadequate training for our drivers are over,” Dizon said. “The President has made it clear: everyone who will drive the buses under the DavaoBus system must undergo proper training to ensure the safety of both passengers and other motorists on the road.”)
Construction underway
The academy's construction, now underway, marks a pivotal shift in the implementation of the DavaoBus Project. Dizon emphasized that professional driver training is key to the success of the new transport system, which the administration envisions as a prototype for other urban areas nationwide.
The DavaoBus Project is a central component of the Marcos administration’s mass transport reform agenda, promising to improve commuter experience and reduce traffic congestion through reliable, high-capacity, and environment-friendly buses. —Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
