DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/ 02 Oct) – The plan of the city government to implement its P3.64-billion High Priority Bus System (HPBS) that is seen to solve traffic woes will have to wait until next year, City Mayor Sara Duterte said Tuesday.
Duterte said during her 2nd State of the City Address (SOCA) at the City Council said the free bus rides offered during the Kadayawan festival in August this year confirmed the need and clamor of the commuters for a modern, safe, and convenient mode of public mass transport in the city.
But the mayor added the Dabawenyos can see the HPBS taking shape by next year yet.
“I am not optimistic that it will happen by December of 2018 but definitely in 2019 something can be seen off the bus system,” she said in a press conference after her SOCA.
She said they are in discussion with the Land Transportation Office and private bus companies that will service the identified five routes.
The proposed first route will start from Catalunan Grande to Ma-a via Diversion Road; second route, from Mintal, to Bangkal drop-off point, to SM City drop-off point in Ecoland, to San Pedro St. drop-off point, to Bankerohan, to Matina, and then back to Mintal; third route, from Cabantian, to Buhangin, and to Agdao via Cabaguio; fourth route, from Ma-a to Buhangin via Diversion Road; and fifth route, from Toril to Ulas drop-off point, to Matina crossing drop-off point, to Matina Aplaya, to SM City Ecoland, to Matina Crossing, and then back to Toril.
The mayor said compensation packages will be offered to jeepney drivers who will be displaced by the implementation of HPBS.
“The HPBS will not only put new and modern city buses on the road. It will also pave the way for future road infrastructure developments that will not only focus on merely building roads,” she said.
She added they will be introducing improvements in integrated public transport terminals, designated loading and unloading areas, proper road markings and signs, and additional traffic signals all over the city with appropriate data generation and system analyses capabilities. (Antonio L. Colina IV/MindaNews)
