In anticipation of the influx of passengers during the Undas, the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) called on travellers to go through the Ecoland terminal as buses are still not allowed to load passengers at designated bus stops all over the city.
The loading of passengers at bus stops within the city was suspended in May of this year following a series of bombing incidents in the neighboring regions.
DCOTT Manager Aisa Usop, during a Davao City Disaster Radio program on Wednesday, said bus drivers who violate the no pick-up policy will still be apprehended by traffic management.
“Aware niana atong mga bus drivers and conductors and even their managers and operators nga wala pa na na-lift (Our bus drivers and conductors and even their managers and operators are aware that this [no pick-up policy] has not been lifted yet),” said Usop.
Usop, however, said this security protocol no longer applies outside of the city’s territories.
A greater influx of passengers is expected during the All Souls’ Day and All Saints’ Day after two years of travel restrictions due to the pandemic.
Usop said that in preparation for the arrival of travellers during Undas, the DCOTT has laid the necessary security measures to ensure the safety of passengers.
She said the DCOTT’s security staff will be divided to cover a three-shift rotation for its 24-hour operations. The terminal’s security will be augmented by the Task Force Davao and the city police which has its own police outpost within the terminal.
Coordination with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and the Land Transportation Office has been established, Usop said, to guarantee the “road-worthiness of our buses.”
The DCOTT has also tapped the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) to ensure the orderly passage of buses through the terminal drive. Usop said the 30-minute interval between buses will be suspended during exceptionally busy days.
“I have this instruction sa mga bus operators na kung mapuno, mularga na para makasulod na pud ang next. So dako kaayo og role ang atong CTTMO when it comes to traffic congestion dira sa terminal drive diha sa atong Candelaria Street (I have this instruction to bus operators that once the bus is full, they can leave the terminal so that another one can enter. So the CTTMO will play a very big role when it comes to traffic congestion there in the Terminal Drive at Candelaria Street),” Usop said.
The DCOTT manager reminded passengers that although the wearing of face masks is not required in the bus terminal, the health protocol is still strictly enforced once a passenger boards the bus. CIO
