President Marcos said his administration is not remiss in its resolve to provide all of the country's regions with a mass transportation system that commuters deserve.

Marcos said this as he witnessed the signing of the civil works contracts for the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project (DPTMP) in Davao City, on Wednesday, Feb. 7.

In his speech, the President said the project is a testament to his administration's commitment to improving mass transportation in the country and developing the Davao Region further.

“This is more than just the Ceremonial Signing of the Civil Works Contracts for the DPTMP. It is a strong reaffirmation of our commitment to develop the Davao Region,” he said.

“It is a demonstration of our resolve to deliver what people in all regions deserve: a mass transportation system that can move commuters and commerce efficiently,” he added.

Marcos emphasized that the project was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the public and private sectors and thanked the Davao City government for fully backing the DPTMP.

He also thanked the Asian Development Bank (ABD) for believing and investing in the DPTMP.

“Their support will be repaid with work that does not scrimp on the budget, nor cut corners on workmanship, nor block feedback, nor disregard deadlines,” Marcos said.

The civil works for the DPTMP are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2024.

The DPTMP is a 672-kilometer bus route network, serving 29 interconnected routes with 400 articulated battery electric buses and more than 500 diesel buses. It seeks to deliver a high-quality bus-based public transportation system to ensure mobility and accessibility for Davao City’s growing population and economy.

It is projected to serve 800,000 passengers daily upon completion and generate around 3,000 jobs.

According to President Marcos, the DPTMP will provide faster and more comfortable commutes while decongesting streets from private vehicles, improve road traffic, and lessen pollution.

“As a catalyst for lifestyle change, it shows by example that there are feasible alternatives to commuting by private vehicles, that these can be left behind at homes, without having to be late for work, for school or for whatever you need to do around and about the places that you live,” he said.