MRT in Davao City?

A Mass Railway Transit in Davao?

This wonderfully photoshopped image of a Mass Railway Transit (MRT) along the corners of J. P. Laurel and Claro M. Recto Avenues is not mine, nor do I lay claim over it as I have just picked this up about a year ago while browsing through the forum of Skyscrapercity.com - Davao City and Samal Island thread and, with much regret, could no longer locate the particular page where I lifted the photo to give due credit to its creative owner.

Since I re-posted the photo to my Facebook Fan Page a second time in April 10, 2013 (the first on September 20, 2012), it immediately went viral over the Internet and in four days overwhelmingly drew the attention and interest of some 37,280 people, with 1,249 "Likes", 203 comments, and 226 "Shares" and as of this writing, the number is still incredibly growing. . .

But do we really need one in Davao City? 

Surely, a mass railway transit like in Manila was conceived in the minds of the Philippine government and erected solely to ease up the perennial traffic in certain portions of the metropolis particularly during the horrible rush hours of commuters coming in and out of the city but in reality did nothing really practical to serve its purpose. 

Why?

Instead of reducing the number of public utility vehicles such as buses and jeepneys which regularly ply along the thoroughfares where the MRTs are erected, the long and wide expanse of the structures have encroached upon a large and considerable portions of the highways and hence have only added unnecessary burden in the already heavy traffic routes thereof.

I fear of a possible repeat of the disastrous mistake of Manila in Davao. Comparatively, traffic in Davao is nothing to, and is much milder than in Manila or in Cebu.

In my opinion, the MRT should be a conveyance of ease to visitors to the city from nearby provinces in Mindanao than to commuters within the city itself.

Now, the city government of Davao is considering its own metropolitan rail system by 2015 in anticipation of the city's ever increasing population, and to cope with its unabated economic growth, and the attendant pressures of urban development.

According to a study conducted by Petra Konsult & Associates, Inc. for the Davao Metro Rail Transit, the rail system with 26 stations from the towns of Toril to Lasang will require $844.50-million investment before it becomes operational by 2015 and will eventually be part of the 2,000-kilometer six-phase railway project which would link the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Zamboanga, Surigao, and General Santos, as well as Agusan province.

The idea of a mass rail system in Mindanao was said to have been first brought up with former President Fidel Ramos during his visit in Davao City in 1992. Since then, investors from Germany, Austria, India, France and Thailand have expressed interest in the railway plans for Mindanao.

Nevertheless, while I personally do not approve of the idea of MRTs in Davao City as this will irrevocably alter forever the simple serenity and yet cosmopolitan cityscape of Davao, I submit unconditionally to the wisdom of the architects of the city.

Mabuhay Taxi

It came as no surprise at all to learn that Davao City has once again pioneered in a first of its kind in the country - cashless cab fare payments! Passengers can now pay taxi fares in Davao City using ATM or debit card.

Mabuhay Taxi, one of the largest and pioneering taxi fleet operators in Davao, has partnered with China Bank to provide its passengers the convenience of paying taxi fares via Megalink and BancNet ATMs and debit cards. The country has seen the rapid growth and popularity of cashless transactions in recent years and this trailblazing concept now makes Mabuhay Taxi the first taxicab company to initiate cashless cab fare payments in the Philippines' transport system. The Mabuhay Black Taxi is also the first taxicab to use a fully computerized Global Positioning System (GPS) Taxi Dispatching System where all their taxi units are closely monitored real-time and phone-a-cab passengers are assured of speedy and accurate dispatching to their pick-up locations.

Starting July 6, 2012, 20 units of Mabuhay Black Taxis, the flagship taxicab of the Mabuhay Group which also operates Blue Taxis, will begin its wireless ATM|Debit Card Payment system to its passengers. There is no minimum payment for taxi fares, even below 100 pesos the transaction will still be processed.

China Bank, through its Davao-Lanang Branch, facilitated the installation of state-of-the-art wireless Point-Of-Sale (POS) terminals to Mabuhay Taxi, a long-time valued client of the bank. It is expected that in a year or two, all Mabuhay Taxi units will already have POS terminals, and that eventually, cashless payment will also be the norm in paying for fares in any public utility vehicle in Davao City.

Mabuhay Black currently has an exclusive taxi stand at SM City Ecoland and is the exclusive taxi service provider for Marco Polo Hotel and Grand Regal Hotel.

Mabuhay Taxi

Images courtesy of eflex and bruno787 of SSC-Davao

Habal-Habal

Habal-Habal is one of the most popular fun rides in and out of Davao City. In fact, because of its extreme popularity among locals and definitely a favorite of foreign tourists, it has now become, as it is rightfully considered, an iconic public transportation particularly in the provinces. 

This highly improvised two-wheeled single motorcycle is usually ridden way beyond its passenger capacity and can unbelievably carry 5 to 6 or more passengers effortlessly, and can only be found, where else, but only in the streets of the Philippines especially in Mindanao. While fares vary depending on destination, distance traveled, and the itinerary of the day, there are no standard fees as each driver charges differently. 

The etymology of the word "habal-habal" is derived from the local Bisayan term for animals "copulating," or "habal" probably because of the position of the riders which somewhat mimics the act of animals copulating. Interestingly, "habal" is repeated and therefore signifies pseudo mating. A stand-alone word that is repeated would usually mean that it is not the actual act of copulating. 

Habal-Habal

Habal-Habal is now used interchangeably with the word "Iskaylab," believed to be taken from the damaged U.S. space satellite named "Skylab" that plunged to Earth from space in 1979. Other conflicting account suggests a contraction of the phrase "sakay na, lab!" which literally means "get on, love!" Personally, it is my opinion that the term was most likely adopted from the former than the latter because of the wooden plank extension placed at the back seat across the motorcycle's main body which serves as additional seat to hold more passengers and, therefore, closely resembling the Skylab and its protruding satellite wings. Often, the wooden extension also serves to carry, along with the passengers, baggage, vegetables, and at times even animals.

Iskaylab

The sight of a habal-habal is a spectacle in itself to behold in awe, as it never fail to amaze me to see and wonder at how the driver manages to balance the passengers seated on both sides of the wooden plank extension plus the additional burden of another rider at his back. 

As most locals say, you have never truly experienced Davao if you have not ridden a habal-habal particularly when touring the different tourists attractions in the City and adjacent islands. This mode of transportation, however humble and lowly it may look, has rightfully earned its reputation as the most reliable means of public carriage (though oftentimes the only transportation available in most remote areas) which will surely get you easily and quickly even in far flung hinterland and rugged terrains of Davao in a fun and exciting experience.

United Colors of Davao Taxis

Davao City is "filled to the brim", so to speak, with tourist attractions and world-class facilities for guests to enjoy while on vacation, tour, or business in the City. And what a more convenient way to explore and experience life in Davao than riding in taxi cabs.

In the Philippines, it is common to see taxi cabs in yellow or white. But in Davao City, taxi cabs come in different shades of white, yellow, blue, orange, or even black and violet! These colors in vivid hues perfectly mirror the Davaoeños vibrant outlook and attitude in life, and, of course, the City's colorful history as well - from its humble beginning, to its impressive progress over the years. 

Yellow Taxi

Today, there are close to 5,000 taxi cabs that now ply the city streets of Davao. But, there is definitely more to here than colors - Davao City takes much pride of having the most passenger-friendly taxi cab system in the country. It is not uncommon for passengers to find their left baggage or valuables returned safely to their very doorsteps on the same day, nor is it a surprising fact to expect an exact change to the last peso. There is hardly any negotiated fares within the City. Except for out of town trips, taxi cabs are strictly metered.

White Taxi

I remember well in 1999, when I again set foot in Davao City on a business assignment, after some 34 years had past since I was in the City in 1965 (I was 2 years old then) with my mother and father who was also visiting Davao on a business trip, Nelson, an associate from our Davao branch office, came to collect me from the old Davao International Airport in Sasa from where we took a cab and headed straight to the office to meet my staff. I handed out our fare to the taxi driver in the total amount of 70 pesos, broken down in one 50 peso bill and one 20 peso bill since the fare totalled 65 pesos. Surprisingly, the driver immediately handed me the 5 peso change, and when I told him to keep it as a tip for bringing me and my companion safely to our destination, he simply smiled back at me and cheerfully drove away. Naturally, I asked Nelson if it was customary in Davao for taxis to decline such a tip. He explained that tipping a taxi driver is highly discouraged as a matter of policy to prevent a precedent in negotiated fares. 

PUs in the 1970s

Back in the 1960s, Davao City used to have black Mercedes Benzes as taxi cabs but were later recalled after a local car distributor-dealer complained of their image being debased from the use of their cars as taxi cabs. And at one time in 1970s, taxi cabs disappeared in Davao City as well as in other cities in Mindanao and were later replaced by Mitsubishi Minicas, popularly called then as "PUs" or Public Utility. However, as Mindanao was rapidly growing economically in the 1980s, the demand for public transportation also increased. Hence, taxi cabs were re-introduced in the early 1990s but many people were reluctant to part with the PUs that only charges 10 pesos anywhere within downtown of the city.

Orange Taxi

In the years that follow the re-introduction of taxi cabs in Davao City, local taxi companies became the first throughout the country to install two-way radios on their taxi fleets and, years later, many other cities in the Philippines followed suit.

Mabuhay Blue Taxi with LED top light

In fact, Mabuhay Taxi, a Davao City taxi company, was the first in the Philippines that introduced LED top lights, and was also awarded Most Outstanding Taxi 2005 (Philippine Advertising Excellence Awards) 24 Hours Radio Taxi Dispatch Service in Davao City.

LED top lights

Flat TV screens inside the taxi

With technology and gadgets flooding mainstream society, taxi cabs have also installed GPS (Global Positioning System) units as well as TVs and DVD players and passengers can now relax and delight while going around the City free from dust and fumes because all taxi cabs in Davao City are also air-conditioned. 

Taxi cabs remain the best option and the fastest means to get to a destination. It is more convenient now to get a taxi cab than before since most are just a call or text away and can easily pick-up passengers anywhere in the City. If one does not have their contact numbers, several taxi cabs are available 24/7 roaming around the city streets and simply waving a hand will signal them to a halt. At night, a taxi cab is available or empty when its top light is RED, otherwise, the taxi cab is occupied when the top light is off.

Black Taxi

Of course, comes with the convenience is the price. Taxi cabs usually charge a flag down rate which will add up for the next 500 meters. After the first 500 meters, another will be charged for every 300 meters traveled. When the taxi cab stops, a charge will also be added every 2 minutes. In other words, taxi fare will incur bigger when stuck longer in traffic. It is wise to inform the driver beforehand of the street address, color of the gate and other information that will help him locate the destination and choose roads that are not busy and have lesser traffic. An additional drop off would mean additional flag down rate.

Taxi cabs are also available for hire for a whole day use at a negotiated price depending on the distance and itinerary for the day.

So, whenever your budget allows, go for taxi cabs. In Davao City, you do not have to worry about taxi drivers choosing which passengers to pick.

Have a pleasant taxi ride when in Davao City!

Below are some Davao taxi companies and their contact numbers: 

Siycha Transport Corporation (STC) Taxi 

Barangay Bago Aplaya, Dumoy, Davao City 

Tel +6382 299 1143 | +6382 304 4779 |+6382 304 4739 

STC UV Express Van +6382 306 5229 

Mobile [Globe] 917 545 8975 | [Sun] 923 719 3833 

Email stc.davao@gmail.com 

Holiday Taxi 

Tel +6382 300 1717 | +6382 221-0665 

Mobile [Smart] 949 856 7947 | [Globe] 927 819 8347 | [Sun] 922 748 2774 

Mabuhay Taxi 

Tels +6382 233 0445 | +6382 234 1360 | +6382 235 1784 

Maligaya Taxi 

Tel  +6382 299 1111 | +6382 296 1391 | +6382 296 1392 

Mobile [Smart] 919 230 0188 | [Globe] 917 705 4455 | [Sun] 922 803 4455 

Krizia Taxi 

Tel +6382 298 5837 to 39 |+6382 298 5541 

Mobile [Smart]  929 812 0299 | [Globe]  917 621 4040 | [Sun]  922 873 2020 

Midvalley Taxi 

Tel +6382 301 0479 |+6382 286 0639

Davao Water Taxi

DAVAO WATER TAXI is another first in the Philippines! Mobility between mainland Davao City and the Island Garden City of Samal will be faster and more convenient to tourists and locals alike. 

Just like any other land-based taxis, the water taxi also has a meter. It can carry up to 14 persons including the boat captain. Fare is Php700 for four passengers for the first 5 kilometers and additional Php50 per passenger for the next succeeding kilometer. It is very safe as all units are complete with safety equipment such as life vests. It is also accredited by the Maritime Industry Authority or MARINA.

The water taxis are based at Sta. Ana Wharf in Davao City with business hours from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM and can also be chartered for boat transfers and island group tours.

Images are courtesy of skyscrapercity.com.

DAVAO CITY QUICK FACTS:

Time Zone

+8 GMT. Philippine standard time is eight hours ahead of Greenwich Meantime. EDT +13 hours.

Visas

Visitors with valid passports may stay up to 21 days without a visa. Hong Kong and Taiwan passport holders, however, require a special permit, which may be obtained from Philippine embassies and consulates.

Currency

The Philippine currency is Peso, divided into 100 centavos. Next to the peso, the U.S. dollar enjoys wide acceptance, Australian and New Zealand currencies are likewise accepted in Currency Exchange Counters in Major Establishments. The currency code is PHP. It stands for Philippine Peso. Bank notes come in P10, P20, P50, P100, P200, P500, and P1000 denominations, while coins are in 5c, 10c, 25c, P1, P5, and P10.

Credit Cards

Visitors are advised to bring sufficient amount of change in small bills or coins. Major international credit cards are widely accepted in hotels, resort, restaurants, shopping centers, among others.

Business Hours

Banks and Government offices:

Banks are usually open between 10 AM to 3 PM on weekdays, and 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM on Saturdays.

Business Offices:

Government and private offices are open from 8 AM to 5 PM on weekdays. While some offices may open on Saturdays, weekends, however, are generally considered day off.

Shops (Hours vary):

Most shops open at 10:30 AM, closing at around 7 PM.  Lunch hour is usually from noon to 2 PM.

Tipping

Bellhops expect a tip, as do waiters, taxi drivers, hairdressers, beauticians, and porters. Most hotels and restaurants add 10% service charge on top of the government tax. Tipping 15% of the bill is  considered appropriate if no service charge is included. P5 to P10 for bellboys, porters, and like. 10% service charge is usually added to the bill. If not, 10% of the bill is adequate for the waiters.

Electricity

Most areas are supplied with 220 volts, 60 cycles, Over 600 mw. A plug with 2 flat parallel prongs is the norm. 220/250 volts, 50 cycles AC, 110V adapters are available upon request. Davao has a 220-volt electrical system. Some hotels provide 110-volt electrical system. Visitors may inquire from hotel front office about the availability of transformers.

Area

Davao City is considered one of the world's largest city in terms of land area which is 2,443.6 square kilometers. It has an estimated population of 1,400,000 accounting to 19% of the entire Southern Mindanao region. It is the second biggest urban market within the East ASEAN Growth Polygon.

Clothing

Lightweight summer clothing is advised. Jackets may be used for slightly more formal occasions. A light suit would be appropriate for business. Clothes for men and women is much like the West. Wear naturalfibre, lightweight clothing. You'll feel more comfortable. Bring shorts, hat sunglasses, bathing suit, insect repellent, flashlight, sun block cream, tough shoes for walking, and rubber slippers for the beach.

*******

If you are in Bali, Manado Airport is the closest.

If you are in Singapore and elsewhere, Silkair of Singapore Airlines flies daily between Singapore and Davao City. Qantas Serves Sydney-Manila and Melbourne- Sydney-  Manila routes.

Qantas, British Airways, and Singapore Airlines ticketing office can be found at the Apo View Hotel  in Downtown, Davao City, and online.

Philippine Airlines (PAL) ticketing is also available online.

Useful Numbers

Embassy of Australia Telephone: (632) 757 8100 - Fax: (632) 757 8268
Embassy of New Zealand Telephone: (632) 891-5358 to 67 or (632) 891-3272 to 75

Jeepney - King of the Philippine Roads

Davao Jeepney

Jeepneys are the most popular and inexpensive modes of public transportation in the Philippines. Not only has it been hailed as the "King of the Philippine Roads," but also regarded as a truly Filipino cultural icon. They are widely known for their colorful flamboyant decoration and practical utility.

The word "jeepney" was derived from a combination of the words, "Jeep" and "Jitney." Jeep is a portmanteau of "General Purpose" or "Gee P". These are light utility vehicles that were built by Ford Motor Company of the United States specifically for all-terrain warfare and tactical use during World War II. Jeeps are generally short, relatively lighter than trucks and cars, unarmored with 4-wheel drive, and a short body overhangs for all-terrain mobility with at least 4 passenger capacity. The importance of this class of military vehicle was summed up by General Dwight Eisenhower who said that the four most important US weapons in World War II were the C-47 Skytrain, the bazooka, the jeep, and the atom bomb. Civilian adaptation of the Jeep is the first sport utility vehicle.

Willys MB US Army Jeep of World War II

A jitney, on the other hand, is a North American English term that originally referred to a "vehicle for hire" intermediate between a taxi and a bus. These are generally a small-capacity vehicles that follow a rough service route, but can go slightly out of its way to pick up and drop off passengers. In the United States, the term "jitney" refers to an unlicensed taxi cab. The name comes from an archaic, colloquial term for a "five-cent" piece (the nickel) in the US. The common fare for the service when it first came into use was five cents, so the "five-cent cab" or "jitney cab" came to be known for the price charged. 

MacArthur Jeep

The Willys MB US Army Jeep of World War II is the most widely known vehicle of this class. Over 640,000 Jeeps were manufactured from 1941 to 1945. Hundreds of these Jeeps, popularly known in the Philippines as the "MacArthur Jeep", were left behind by American troops after World War II. These were either sold or freely given to the Filipinos and were widely used to augment the lack of transportation after the war. These were altered and customized to accommodate more passengers, added metal roofs, and decorated them with vibrant colors and bright chrome hood ornaments.

Post War Jeep in Davao City

The rapid emergence of the Jeepney as a widespread and yet a necessary mode of transportation, had led the Philippine government the eventual regularization of its use as a public passenger vehicle. Drivers are now required of specialized licenses, with regular routes, at reasonably fixed fares. Today, Jeepneys are manufactured by local body builders from a combination of prefabricated materials and improvisation often with "surplus" Japanese SUVs or light truck diesel engines, transmissions, suspensions, and steering components.

Conventional Type Jeepney

Jeepney's Interior

Jeepneys usually have open doors with hand railings at the rear where passengers can board and disembark. Inside the Jeep is a couple of long rows of bench type seats along the sides which can usually seat 16 or so passengers, and two more extra seats next to the driver. They are usually manned by two people: the driver, and the conductor who manages the passengers and collects the fare. In the absence of a conductor, people seated closest to the driver are responsible for passing on the fare to the driver. At designated stops, a dispatcher, often called the "barker", is often present, calling out potential passengers for a particular route or destination. Jeepneys may be flagged down much like the taxis by holding out or waving an arm at the approaching vehicle. Because of the proximity of the passengers in jeepneys, certain etiquette is observed: jostling and shoving passengers is considered rude; elderly and women are always given preference in seating; children are allowed to ride for free if seated on the lap of the accompanying adult thereby not taking up seating space. If the jeepney is in full capacity, male passengers usually cling on the outside hand railings, or as a common practise particularly in the remote areas of the provinces, sit on the roof. This practice, however, is highly dangerous and definitely illegal, and is, therefore, discouraged. To stop the vehicle, passengers usually rap their knuckles on the roof the jeepney, or rap a coin on a metal handrail, or simply tell the driver to stop. Modern jeepneys often have buzzers to alert the driver of a disembarking passenger.

Jeepneys have open door at the rear where passengers can board and disembark

A conductor rides at the back calling out potential passengers

Commuters

A common sight in the provinces

Jeepney Terminal

The start and end point of a route is a Jeepney terminal, where Jeepneys plying a particular route are filled with passengers one at a time, preferring only to leave the terminal when full, usually to more than comfortable capacity.

Nelson Type Jeep of Davao City

In Davao City, the "Nelson Type" jeepneys, known as "uso-uso", are manufactured, whose designs are totally different from the conventional style. They feature modern front grilles and body designs, lowered ride height, and industrial quality paint jobs. Newer models of Nelson type jeepneys are even chrome-plated, and use tubeless tires.

Toyota Van Style Jeepney

The jeepney industry has evolved much over the years since the jeepney was first used after the war. Today, many local builders are manufacturing more modern-looking jeepneys resembling AUVs, such as Honda CR-Vs, Hummer lookalikes, or an oversize Toyota van-style passenger jeepneys complete with Toyota headlights, hoods and bumpers. These new generation of jeepneys are usually equipped with high-powered sound systems, racing themes, and are now bigger and longer with more seating capacity, and some even have air-conditioning units.

Currently, there are two classes of jeepney builders in the Philippines: the backyard builders which produce 1 to 5 jeepneys a month, and source their die-stamped materials from manufacturers, and work with surplus diesel engines and chassis from salvage yards; the other type is the large volume manufacturers which have 2 subgroups, namely: the PUJ, or "public utility jeep," and the large volume metal-stamping companies that supply parts as well as produce complete vehicles.

E-Jeepneys

Faced with increasing restrictions and regulations for pollution control, and high fuel costs, a limited number of locally built Electric jeepneys or "E-Jeepneys" are now being tested for commercial operation by the local city governments in some parts of the country, including Davao City, and some have already been plying various routes. Hailed as "The First Public Transport System Of Its Kind in South-East Asia," the concept was first introduced in response to environmental and economical concerns: reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and the rise in oil prices.

E-Jeepneys are equipped with a 5 to 7 Kw, 72 to 84 volt electric motor, either with or without transmission, with front end hood and fender or none, side or rear entry and front-facing or center-facing rear seats. These can be charged by plugging into an electric socket, using power from biodegradable waste and can run a maximum speed of 40 kph, or a total of 120 kms on an 8-hour charge from an electric outlet.

The unique versatility of jeepneys allows for other various uses; among many others, these are:

Called "Owner Type Jeep" for Personal Use

Family Jeepney or for Private Use

Commercial Use Jeepney for transport of goods

Tourist Tram Jeepney

For School Bus

Visit to the Philippines will definitely not be complete without riding the King of the Philippine Roads.