The Land Transportation, Franchising, and Regulatory Board-Davao (LTFRB-11) has opened four new routes and added eight bus units for the Peak Hours Augmentation Bus System (PHABS) to address the shortage of public utility vehicles (PUVs) in Davao City.

LTFRB-11 admitted that many PUVs did not ply the streets as they could no longer pass the roadworthiness test, and operators could no longer afford the maintenance of the units.

The new four routes include University of Mindanao (UM) Matina Campus to Maa; UM Matina Campus to Matina Aplaya; Puan to Roxas Avenue; and UM Bolton Campus to Indangan.

“Originally, we only have 10 routes for PHABS with consultation with the city government through CTTMO atoang gidugangan og four ang routes ang atoang PHABS. It will operate from 5am to 8am and 5in the afternoon till 8 in the evening,” LTFRB-11 Director, Nonito Llanos III, said.

The High Priority Bus System (HPBS) is seen as long-term solution to the problem.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista assured that HPBS will push through even if it was delayed due to budget concerns.

While waiting for the implementation of the HPBS, LTFBR-11 is also looking at Modern Public Utility Vehicle as solution, but it is still under study.

“We are expecting to introduce public utility system in davao which will utilize a public utility vehicle if the city government will allow they will operate until such time the bus system of Davao will be implemented,” Llanos added.