The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has assured that the government has enough funds for the Davao bus project that has been delayed for about two years.

DOTr Sectretary Vince Dizon and Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman inspected a prototype bus stop outside the Mintal Elementary School in Davao City as part of the preparations for the rollout of the Davao bus project.

Once approved, construction will begin in more than 1,000 bus stops and five depots across the city.

Dizon added that the project he described as one of the largest bus systems in the world and the first of its kind in the Philippines will push through.

The right-of-way acquisition, which began in March, is reportedly 60 percent complete. The target is to finish it by the end of 2025, with negotiations now ongoing for only about 40 remaining property owners.

“Yes matutuloy. In fact, aminado naman tayo na na-delay ito ng ilang taon, parang mga 2 years ata ang na-delay pero dahil nga sa utos ng Pangulo na talagang bilisan nga ang project, talagang binibilisan na natin ‘to,” Dizon said.

The total cost of the project is P76 billion, with P20 billion coming from the national government as its counterpart.

“Meron namang pondo, it’s just that na-delay ‘yung right of way acquisition at ang construction. The money has always been there kaya lang natagalan tayo, na-delay tayo sa implementation,” Dizon added.

The construction at the Calinan Driving School site began in May 2025.

The pilot testing for the Phase 1 of the project is scheduled for 2027.