DAVAO CITY (October 29) – The Davao Bus Project may face further delays next year as only ₱2 billion was allocated for 2026, far below the ₱14–₱17 billion requested to sustain construction and procurement activities.
Atty. Dwight Domingo, assistant city administrator and project manager, said the current allocation under the national budget proposal is “not enough for full implementation,” though he remains hopeful Congress will approve additional funding through proposed budget insertions.
“Hopefully, our leaders in Congress will recognize that this project can be a model for the entire country,” Domingo told Davao City Disaster Radio on October 27, noting that the city cannot finance the initiative alone due to its massive scale and cost.
Despite the shortfall, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said the project remains on track, with road right-of-way acquisition ongoing and operations targeted by 2027. About 60 percent of the required land has been secured, according to former Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon.
The ₱76-billion flagship project aims to establish a 672-kilometer integrated bus network with 1,100 buses, five depots, three terminals, and an automated fare collection system.
Co-financed by the Asian Development Bank, the national government, and the City Government of Davao, it is envisioned as the country’s first modern, citywide bus rapid transit model.
