passenger influx dcott

THE DAVAO City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) is gearing up for the expected rising number in commuters for the upcoming Holy Week.

“We are expecting an influx in our bus terminal this upcoming week for the observance of the Holy Week for the Catholics, and the upcoming summer vacation of schools,” DCOTT manager Aisa Usop said during the iSpeak media forum on Thursday.

Usop said part of the preparations is the special permits for buses wishing to service destinations outside their usual routes, as an influx is expected to start from March 27. The Holy Week is observed from March 29 to April 5.

The LTFRB is also asked to establish a station in DCOTT to cater to special permits for buses.

While the management observed a reduced bus trip, according to recent monitoring, the terminal is bracing for one of the busiest months of the year when travelers go home to their provinces.

Average bus trips daily range from 700 to 800 on regular days, but since the surge in fuel prices, the trips have decreased to 500.

Usop said this was the measure of some bus operators to address the financial strain from the rising fuel prices. 

To note, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) announced on Saturday, March 14, that it approved the implementation of a P0.35-P1 fare increase for provincial buses, it was cut short as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the suspension of the fare hike on March 18.

Usop said bus drivers prefer to load passengers before they enter the terminal bays to maximize their trip.

The DCOTT charges P75 to P200 for every bus trip, depending on the passenger capacity, and mandates a 30-minute interval for every bus. 

At present, the terminal management has yet to receive a petition from bus operators in terms of extending the interval time to maximize every bus trip.

Ceres Transport Incorporated, a sister company of Mindanao Star, Rural Transit, and Bachelor Express, joins the group and will start operating at DCOTT after securing approval from the LTFRB.

This is on top of the bus companies operating for northbound and southbound trips, such as Metro Shuttle, LCI, ECF, among others.

Usop said that apart from the usual measures, they are strengthening the CCTV monitoring force along with the X-ray baggage machine at the passenger entrance. 

The baggage machine is placed beside the two existing walk-through machines, which will help manage the long queue during peak periods.