DAVAO CITY — Commuters in Davao City will soon experience improved public transportation as ten new buses under the Davao City Interim Bus Service (DIBS) are expected to arrive in the city by September and may be deployed by the fourth quarter of 2025.
The DIBS is a flagship initiative of the Davao City Government — entirely conceptualized, funded, and operated locally — aimed at modernizing the city’s transport system and offering more accessible options for the riding public.
In an interview on Davao City Disaster Radio, Davao City Bus Project Manager Atty. Tristan Dwight Domingo shared that the buses are set to be shipped around mid-August.
“Based on our latest communication, the 10 buses might be shipped to Davao around the middle of August. We are hoping that by the end of August or sometime in September, the buses will arrive,” Domingo said.
He added that once the buses arrive, drivers certified by TESDA under the National Certificate III (NC3) Bus Driving program will begin hands-on familiarization as part of their final training. The city has also begun hiring TESDA-certified mechanics and command center personnel to support the full operation of DIBS.
Pending finalization of route approvals by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Domingo noted that the city is aiming to roll out the buses by late September or October. During the initial stage of deployment, rides will be offered free of charge to Dabawenyos during peak hours — part of the city’s continuing efforts to encourage public transport use and ease traffic congestion.
“Even with the DIBS, the Peak Hour Augmentation Bus System (PHABS) will continue because it has been a big help,” Domingo said. He emphasized that both systems — DIBS and PHABS — will operate simultaneously to meet commuter demand.
Transport studies are also ongoing to determine new routes and better allocation of PHABS buses in other underserved areas in the future.
With Davao City taking the lead in building a sustainable and commuter-friendly public transport model, the upcoming rollout of DIBS buses marks another step forward in its vision of a safer, smarter, and more efficient urban mobility system.