Cue said these IP communities have already been informed through a special consultation meeting held on October 15, 2021 that they will be affected by bus stops only, however he said, no major physical displacement will happen to these communities.
Cue said the meeting was attended by 21 individuals from the IP communities to include Ata Tribe, Tagabawa, Obu Manuvu, Matigsalug, Bagobo-Tagabawa, and Bagobo Klata.
During the meeting, they were able to present the project overview, components, and environmental, and social impact assessment of HPBS.
The City Information Office (CIO) in its report said that the Free and Prior Informed Consent Process (FPICP) has resulted in the awarding of the Certificate of Precondition to the HPBS project by the National Commission for the Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
The NCIP, according to Cue, extended its appreciation to the project in the initial meetings because they believed that the HPBS project will provide access for IP communities to public transport.
“The implementers of the HPBS Project constantly remind the public and ourselves that no one will be left behind on our road to progress and development. We are working hard to ensure as well that this project will be inclusive to all sectors of the city,” Cue said.
A total of 1,076 bus stops are planned to be built across Davao City. Out of the number, 993 are public lands within the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) asset, 40 are identified as private lands, and 43 are ongoing identification of landowners since there are no records of land ownership found in government records.
The HPBS Project includes six depots, three terminals, bus stops, signal priority, and bus lanes, pedestrian and street improvements, electric bus feasibility, and franchise operations.
Under the project, 29 routes across the city are to be divided into 4 route tiers that will cater 1,040 new buses replacing the existing jeepney network in the area.
Lawyer Marlisa Gallo, head of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), meanwhile, said that apart from the IP communities, her office and DoTr have also consulted with all other stakeholders and concerned agencies
“We have slowly resumed consultations on the ground since last year,” she said.
Gallo said the consultations were halted due to the pandemic but last year, she said her staff and the DoTr have been focussing on the barangays.
Gallo said there will be more consultations meant to popularize HPBS further and give stakeholders a chance to address their concerns.
“We will relay through our social workers in the barangay level that we will have a dialogue so that we can also hear their side on what they want for this government project,” Gallo said.
The government is eyeing to start the full operation of HPBS in the last quarter of 2023.
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