Teen developer launches DavaoGo app to guide Davao City commuters

A 17-year-old self-taught developer has built a mobile app meant to help commuters in Davao City find routes and work out which public transport to take, Mindanao Times reported.

Francisco Navalta created "DavaoGo" to help Davaoeños better understand public utility jeepney routes and the Davao Interim Bus System (DIBS). He said the app focuses on the city's commuting experience and is meant to give both residents and visitors confidence when travelling.

Navalta said one of his priorities was keeping the app simple, even for people unfamiliar with certain parts of the city. He said he wants commuters to be able to get route information "without always having to ask other people for directions."

According to Mindanao Times, development took three to four months. During that time he worked on the interface and route information, and spent time researching, testing and refining the app. He described the experience as both challenging and rewarding.

The app includes a built-in assistant called "SANI" and works in English, Filipino and Bisaya. Users who sign in with a Google account can save marked destinations, reopen favourite routes and store complete trips for later.

DavaoGo draws on several sources. These include jeepney fares from official Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) guides, and DC Bus route identities from the DIBS website and DC Bus Tracker. It also uses base map data from OpenStreetMap contributors, weather data from Open-Meteo, transport details researched and verified by DavaoGo, and information submitted by the community.

The app is available on the Google Play Store. It is an independent project and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or operated by the City Government of Davao or any transportation agency.

Navalta said he hopes DavaoGo will become a reliable commuting guide for students, workers and other commuters. He said he is open to working with the city government and transportation offices in the future, as he believes this would make the route details more accurate and useful. "I know there is still a lot of room for improvement," he said, adding that he plans to keep developing the app.