The Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) is all set for the expected surge of passengers traveling to various destinations across Mindanao in time for All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
During the I-Speak Media Forum, DCOTT Manager Aisa Usop said preparations have been in place to accommodate the influx of travelers expected to start as early as the last week of October.
“We coordinated with the SMBOA because there is a possibility na magdagsa ang pasahero. As always, ang SMBOA ginapa-coordinate sa LTFRB to operate with additional permits sa mga ruta tungod sa expected nga kadaghan sa mga pasahero (We coordinated with the Southern Mindanao Bus Operators Association (SMBOA) because, as always, there’s a possibility that passengers will flock to the terminal. The SMBOA, in turn, coordinates with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for the issuance of additional permits for routes with high passenger demand),” she said.
Usop said the LTFRB plays a vital role in issuing special permits for bus companies to operate additional trips when necessary.
“Sometimes dili ma pre-empt; there are times na daghan og naa ang panahon mudaghan ang north, important ang LTFRB for the issuance of special permits sa mga buses (There are times when we cannot pre-empt the increase in passengers. Sometimes, travel to the northern area suddenly surges, so we rely on LTFRB for impromptu permits),” she added.
Currently, DCOTT oversees an average of 700 to 800 bus trips daily. However, the number is expected to rise to between 1,000 and 1,500 trips per day during the “Kalag-Kalag” period, translating to about 50,000 to 80,000 passengers daily. The terminal normally caters to around 35,000 passengers per day.
To ensure passenger safety, Usop said that the Land Transportation Office (LTO) will conduct inspections to ensure the roadworthiness of buses. Meanwhile, the LTFRB will also check drivers’ documents.
She said that, as to the security aspect, the DCOTT’s safety is monitored by 32 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, walk-through scanners, and baggage X-ray machines. This is on top of the security forces from Task Force Davao and the Davao City Police Office.
Usop underscored that the city, through an inter-agency task force, continues to implement the “no pick-up policy” along highways.
“Ginapa-huot gyud nato ang policy nga dili dapat pick-up drivers along the highways because that is part of the safety measures in our terminal (We continue to implement a stricter no-pick-up policy as drivers should not pick up passengers along the highways because that is part of the safety measures of the terminal),” she said, underscoring that all the security measures implemented at the DCOTT will be rendered useless if drivers continue to pick up passengers outside the terminal.
She added that online booking remains available and advantageous for passengers, as those with online tickets are prioritized at the entrance to ensure they don’t miss their trips.
Despite the high passenger turnout in previous years, Usop said DCOTT continues to maintain order and discipline among travelers.
“So far, we have not received significant reports of theft. With our CCTV monitoring, we can quickly trace incidents and coordinate with bus companies and authorities for apprehension,” she said, citing a past incident where coordination led to the arrest of a suspect along the highway.
Usop lauded Dabawenyos for their cooperation and discipline.
“We appreciate our passengers for being disciplined. Whether there are many passengers or not, they continue to follow safety guidelines,” she said.
DCOTT operates 24 hours daily and serves 21 bus companies for both the northbound and southbound routes, including major operators. CIO
