In response to the increasing demand for more public transportation options during peak hours in Davao City, the Land Transportation Franchising & Regulatory Board (LTFRB) approved the Peak Hours Augmentation Bus Service (PHABS) in Toril and Catalunan Grande.
The initiative came from a series of meetings by the Davao City Transportation and Traffic Planning Committee to address the lack of public utility vehicles (PUVs) in selected Davao City areas during morning and evening peak hours.
Photo sources: PTV 4 Mindanao and LTFRB XI
Peak Hours Augmentation Bus Service Routes
Toril Route
Route description:
Starting from Toril, turn right to Davao-Cotabato Road, via Ulas, via Bangkal, through MacArthur Highway, through Quirino Avenue, turn right to C. Bangoy St., turn left to Roxas Avenue, turn right Quezon Boulevard through Quimpo Boulevard, turn left to MacArthur Highway, via Matina Crossing, via Bangkal, via Ulas, via Puan, then back to Toril
AM Peak
6:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Toril to Dowtown
Bus stops:
- Toril District Hall
- Corner IWHA McArthur Highway
- Gulfview (Gas Station)
- Ulas Shell
- UM Matina – Overpass
- Roxas Avenue
PM Peak
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Downtown to Toril
Bus stops:
- Roxas Avenue
- Layby cor. Rizal-Quezon Boulevard (Merco)
- Sandawa Pia’s Cafe
- Ulas Coke Warehouse
- Corner IWHA McArthur Highway
- Toril
Catalunan Grande Route
Route description:
Starting from corner Elenita-Catalunan Grande, through Catalunan Grande Road, turn left to MacArthur Highway, turn right to Quimpo Boulevard, through Quezon Boulevard, turn left to Roxas Avenue, turn right to C. Bangoy St., turn left to Quirino Avenue, through MacArthur Highway, turn right to Petron, through Catalunan Grande Road, then back to Santiago Villas (corner Elenita-Catalunan)
AM Peak
6:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Catalunan Grande to Downtown
Bus stops:
- Elenita Heights
- Santiago Villas
- Sitio Awa
- Catalunan Grande Barangay Hall
- Phoenix Gas Station
- Matina GSIS
- SM Ecoland
- Brgy. Hall Almendras
- Roxas Avenue
PM Peak
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Downtown to Catalunan Grande
Bus stops:
- Roxas Avenue
- Bankerohan (Mercury Drug)
- Malayan College
- Bangkal near Petron / Collado
- San Isidro Labrador Church
- Catalunan Grande Barangay Hall
- Sitio Awa
- Santiago Villas
- Elenita Heights
*Still unserved: At least one (1) bus unit will traverse to C.P. Garcia Highway (via corner Eden Street Caltex, then Roxas Avenue)
Fare Computation
Minimum fare (first 5 km):
Regular = P10.00
Discounted = P8.00
Per succeeding km beyond 5km:
Regular = P2.20
Discounted = P1.76
Fare Matrix for Peak Hours Augmentation Bus Service
(Pursuant to Memorandum Circular No. 2019-009 dated February 15, 2019)
Source: LTFRB XI
Implementing Schemes
- Bus units will load and/or unload passengers at designated bus stops only.
- The scheme is applicable for one trip, although this may change depending on the observations during the initial implementation phase.
- One bus will be dispatched from the starting station at a time, under the supervision of officers from the Davao City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO).
- Ideal dispatch interval of buses is every 10 minutes for Toril Route, and 12 minutes for Catalunan Grande Route.
As of February 20, 2019, Special Permits have been granted by LTFRB-XI to three (3) units for the Catalunan Grande Route and 4 units for the Toril Route.
According to City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) Chief Dionisio Abude via ByahengDo30, plans are also underway for the Peak Hours Augmentation Bus Service in Mintal and Cabantian areas, pending LTFRB approval.
Here are some photos on the first day of implementation in February 20, 2019:
Photo sources: PTV 4 Mindanao and LTFRB XI
good day. i am a regular commuter of the catalunan Grande service bus, but an unpleasant experience happened to me this morning. i took a ride at san isidro labrador church going to almendras. the bus was so full from elenita prompting me to stand which i usually do. i don’t mind standing all the way, but a passenger disembarked somewhere along the way so i was about to sit at that vacant seat. the one sitting beside that vacant seat told me to vacate the seat because she called a lady infront standing beside the driver to sit on that place, so i stood up. i was so disgusted because i was the one standing close to that vacant seat but maybe the one standing was a friend of that lady sitting beside the vacated seat. it seems that those people are reserving seats for their friends which i believe is so unacceptable. i am a senior citizen and that lady whom she called to sit was so younger than my age. in truth people from catalunan grande in skyline particularly don’t have the chance to sit anymore since all the buses are already full from elenita. i hope that due consideration will also be given to us if possible to put even one bus in the morning where the starting point is in skyline area so we could also avail a comfortable seat just like those in elenita area. i am just thankful to the crew of the bus , the driver and his men who are so kind enough and polite to me. this happened today at 6;30 am, September 11, 2019. i hope my concern will reach at your end and hoping for a favorable response. thank you.