DAVAO: Amid the expected influx of passengers for the holiday season, the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) has encouraged travelers to book their bus tickets online to avoid long queues and to shorten waiting times.

In an interview Friday, DCOTT manager Aisa Usop said the online booking of bus tickets arose from a DCOTT-led study, with the support of various bus companies operating in the terminal.

Usop said the study shows that online ticket booking solves the congestion problem at the terminal, and results in better experience for passengers.

‘Some of them (bus operators) have already made their seats available for reservation in their platforms or third-party service providers. Though the purchasing tickets online may entail additional fees and may not cover all routes and destinations,’ she said.

Usop said families with children or elderly passengers traveling long distances “are especially encouraged to try pre-booking their seats with bus companies.”

Those who pre-book, she said, will
have a separate queue from passengers who buy their tickets at the terminal, “ensuring a more convenient travel experience.”

The Rural Transit, Bachelor Express, Mindanao Star, Metro Shuttle Bus, Philtranco, ACF Bus Line, and the Yellow Bus Line are some major bus companies with operations at the DCOTT that are currently offering online seat reservations for particular routes.

‘More routes from other bus lines will soon be available for online booking. Passengers can still make seat reservations by calling bus companies,’ Usop said.
Source: Philippines News Agency