October 30, 2025
by Mellisse Geisha Jamora
The Davao City government introduced ten new low-floor buses under the Davao Interim Bus Service, known as DC Bus, to ease public transport challenges in the city. The buses arrived at the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) on October 14, 2025. Each 12-meter bus is equipped with air conditioning, CCTV cameras, ramps for persons with disabilities, bicycle racks, and electronic passenger counters. The buses are part of the city’s interim solution while the full Davao Public Transport Modernization Project is being implemented.
City officials state that the buses’ operation of free rides will transpire within peak hours, from 6:00 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., to provide immediate relief to the commuters, while the routes and bus stops are being finalized, pending approval from regulatory authorities. The new fleet is expected to complement the existing Peak Hours Augmentation Bus System (PHABS) and other public transport services. The city hired 22 bus drivers and additional staff as operators of the buses, who are former jeepney drivers who are familiar with city routes.
The construction of a temporary garage and operations center began in early 2025 at DCOTT to house and manage the buses and support the interim bus operations. City transportation emphasized that the 10-bus fleet is just a first step in providing immediate aid against commuting predicaments the citizens of Davao City are facing. They said the fleet is not fully sufficient to fully address the city’s public transport demand, but serves as a temporary measure until the larger bus modernization plan is fully optional.
The city government aspires for the new buses to help reduce congestion, improve the safety of commuters, and provide a more reliable and comfortable transport option. Furthermore, officials highlighted that the free-ride policy during peak hours aims to support low-income passengers and students. The DC Bus service marks a step towards Davao City’s overall goal of modernizing and alleviating its public transportation system to provide better services to Dabawenyos while preparing for the eventual rollout of hundreds of additional buses under the full modernization project.