The Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) announced that it has made all the necessary preparations for the influx of passengers for the Holy Week, as well as for the arrival of delegates to the Davao Regional Athletics Association (DAVRAA) Meet slated on April 1-7.
The sports meet is estimated to bring together around 7,500 student athletes, coaches, and guests starting March 31.
DCOTT Manager Aisa Usop said on Wednesday that the terminal has already seen significant influx of passengers this month due to the Araw ng Dabaw celebration and the Ramadan. She said the arrival of delegates, which coincides with Easter Sunday and the last day of next week’s long weekend, will raise activity in the terminal—now estimated to cater to around 50-75 thousand passengers and make 1,000-1,500 bus trips on peak days.
Usop said the DCOTT has made sure that all buses going to and from the terminal are road-worthy. Bus operators have also been briefed to ready units for augmentation should the number of buses fall short.
“We already informed the Southern Mindanao Bus Operators [Association] for them to be ready. Kung kinahanglan, mangayo na sila og advance na special permits alang atong mga ruta nga nahibal-an nila nga daghan gyud ang musakay or mubyahe (We already informed the Southern Mindanao Bus Operators Association to be ready. If needed, they have to ask in advance for special permits to augment buses to routes they know will have many passengers),” Usop said during the AFP-PNP Press Conference at the Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday.
In terms of security, Usop said the Task Force Davao, the Davao City Police Office, the Public Safety and Security Office and other security agencies have met for the security coverage for the arrival of DAVRAA delegates.
Usop reminded passengers that DCOTT’s security personnel, the Task Force Davao, and the Philippine National Police will be conducting manual baggage inspection as renovations to the passenger’s entrance are ongoing. CIO
