DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur Jan. 30 (PIA)-  From highlands to the shoreline. This is practically the route of the new public transport inaugurated by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory  Board XI last week. 

The modern vehicles under the Kapatagan Transport Cooperative are airconditioned with closed-circuit television cameras designed to secure the passengers who are either farmers or tourists.

They will take the route from Barangay Aplaya, in Digos City to Barangay Kapatagan going to Balutakay, Barangay Managa in Bansalan, Davao del Sur to Bansalan Proper and vice versa, all in all covering 62.6 kilometers.

Nonito Llanos III, director of the LTFRB XI bared that majority of the routes now is planned by the local government units.

He said that part of their study is to ask the question, is the area safe for the public?

Llanos noted that the Barangay Balutakay and Barangay Kapatagan areas are safe for the public because of the support of the local governments and the national government.

“The local public transport route plan was approved by the provincial government guaranteeing the entry of the development in the areas,” he said.

The Digos City Government has issued a special permit for the tricycles to continue their operation to cater to passengers to ensure that their livelihood will not be affected by the entry of the modernized jeepneys.

Bansalan Mayor Edwin Reyes claimed that the entry of modernized vehicles is a big boost to the tourism industry which also affects his town. 

He said that the Bansalan LGU also aims that Balutakay under Barangay Managa, Bansalan will also improve in its tourism pursuit.

Reyes guaranteed the safety of the modernized vehicles.

“No stoning of vehicles will happen once it enters in our place since we have to protect our own,” he said.

Kapatagan Barangay Chair Juanito Morales said that the local transport system is a welcome development for Davao del Sur, particularly for the people of Digos City.

He said the sixty-nine-peso fare is good enough for the transport of people and vegetables.

“It took us three years for the realization of the project,” Morales said.  (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)