Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez has ordered faster construction of the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project (DPTMP) to keep the “DavaoBus” system on track for partial operations by late 2027.
Lopez issued the directive during an inspection of the Calinan Depot and Driving School, where construction has been delayed by two months. He ordered a 24/7 catch-up schedule to recover lost time and stressed that no further delays will be accepted.
The transport chief said the DPTMP is intended to serve as a model for similar transport modernization projects in other provinces. “We want this to be the template for other cities,” Lopez said, adding that the government is confident the system will succeed in Davao City.
Despite the push to speed up work, Lopez reminded contractors to secure all required permits and comply with labor laws and other regulations.
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) will work closely with the Davao City government to speed up construction and right-of-way acquisition. City officials, including social development program head and acting city engineer JL Esparcia, pledged support in processing permits and meeting institutional requirements to fast-track the project.
Once fully operational, the 672-kilometer DPTMP is expected to serve up to 800,000 commuters daily. The system will deploy 386 electric buses, 531 standard buses, and 188 mini-buses.
The accelerated timetable signals the national government’s broader policy push to modernize public transport systems across the country, using Davao City as the pilot model for future rollouts.
PNA foto
