DAVAO CITY—The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-XI (LTFRB-XI) has added new routes for the Peak Hours Augmentation Bus System to help Dabawenyo commuters during peak hours.
The new routes will be University of Mindanao Matina to Maa, University of Mindanao Matina to Matina Aplaya, University of Mindanao Bolton to Indangan and Puan to Roxas.
The PHABS was created in 2019 to help augment existing public transportation in the city ferrying commuters from downtown routes using bus units.
The new routes will also mean additional PHABS bus units which are expected to reach 30.
LTFRB-XI Regional Director Nonito Llanos III said these buses are needed, as 30 percent of authorized public utility vehicles are no longer operating or about 1,000 public utility jeepneys and filcabs.
“We are looking at the holiday rush if it is necessary to add that our bus operators are very cooperative,” Llanos said.
He said there is already a system under the PHABS, if the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) notice buses are lacking for the volume of passengers they will call immediately to the operator.
“And the operator will immediately send additional units,” Llanos said.
The bus operators who are contributing to the additional buses for the PHABS include; Golden Valley, Mindanao Star, Bachelor, Metro Shuttle and LCI.
The augmentation started on October 17 through LTFRB Office Circular number 2.
Llanos said they are cognizant of the problems faced by commuters. “We can also see (complaints) in the social media and we are trying to find solutions, though it is not really a perfect solution, but at least it would augment,” the LTFRB-XI regional director said. (PIA/RGA)
