Bus project concerns transportation cooperative over potential driver implications
Rewritten Article:
In Davao City, jeepney drivers are juggling hopes and fears as the city presses ahead with its public transport overhaul. One such anxious voice belongs to Maning Duran, chairman of the Southeastern Mindanao Diversified Drivers & Operators Cooperative (Semddoc), who concerns himself with potential repercussions of the city's recent endeavors on the lifeblood of PUJ drivers. Speaking on dxDC RMN Davao, Duran vigorously voiced his worries, stating that these drivers, whose livelihoods hinge on daily operations, could take a significant hit if the new urban mobility initiative hastily phases out jeepneys.
Duran's apprehensions were sparked by Davao City's latest acquisition – 10 12-meter, low-floor buses, obligations for which are due during the fourth quarter of 2025. The city plans to utilize these buses in its Davao Bus Project, a program designed to curb congestion during peak commute hours by providing citizens with a government-operated transport option.
However, the initiative doesn't mark a definitive goodbye to our trusty jeepneys, according to city officials who interpret the buses as an interim solution, given that the broader Davao Public Transport Modernization Project is still in progress.
Project manager lawyer Tristan Dwight Domingo, shedding some light on the city's strategy, declared that data collected from Peak Hours Augmentation Bus Service (Phabs) operations plainly indicated a persistent demand for dependable public transport – especially along underserved routes. This realization motivated the city to expand the program, ensuring steady momentum even in the absence of the full-blown modernization plan.
Phabs, inaugurated in 2019, was created in response to commuters' woes of battling lengthy wait times and limited vehicle availability during peak hours. Nevertheless, even under current operations, passengers continue to grapple with securing timely and sufficient transport options.
Throughout this journey, semddoc and other transport collectives are urging city officials to factor inclusivity into the transition, ensuring the well-being of PUJ drivers and steering clear of leaving anyone behind while Davao journeys towards a sophisticated transport system.
On a broader level, jeepney drivers across the nation, including in Davao City, encounter uncertainty in light of the looming modernization projects. Although the situation is fluid, with some regulatory shifts that may soften the impact, several issues persist for drivers tied to financial and logistical challenges, cultural symbolism, protests, and strikes.
- Amidst the public transport overhaul in Davao City, Maning Duran, chairman of Semddoc, voices concerns about the potential impact on jeepney drivers and their livelihoods.
- Duran's concerns stem from Davao City's acquisition of 10 12-meter buses, which are set to arrive in the fourth quarter of 2025, as part of the Davao Bus Project.
- City officials view the buses as a temporary solution, with the broader Davao Public Transport Modernization Project still in progress.
- Tristan Dwight Domingo, project manager, reveals that data from Phabs operations demonstrates a consistent demand for reliable public transport, particularly along underserved routes.
- Phabs, launched in 2019, was created to address commuters' struggles with long wait times and limited vehicle availability during peak hours, yet passengers continue to face difficulties securing timely and sufficient transport options under current operations.
- In the midst of modernization projects, jeepney drivers nationwide, including in Davao City, grapple with uncertainty, dealing with financial and logistical challenges, cultural symbolism issues, and potential disruptions through protests and strikes.
