Davao City to PITX bus guide

The primary land-and-sea route for taking a bus from Davao City to the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) is mapped along the Eastern Nautical Highway (Maharlika Highway / AH26). Unlike the western route used for Cubao-bound trips, the direct line to PITX is serviced by Davao Metro Shuttle (DMS). It spans approximately 1,289 kilometers and requires two separate roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) ferry crossings.

Route overview and terminal information

Buses depart from the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (DCOTT) in Ecoland and travel northbound across the archipelago to terminate at PITX in Paranaque.

• Average travel time: 50 to 55 hours, heavily dictated by port queues at Lipata and Allen.
• Operating hours: Davao Metro Shuttle operates scheduled departures from Davao to PITX.
• Fares: Standard air-conditioned bus fares are P4,510 for a regular full fare and P3,610 for discounted passengers (Students, PWDs, Seniors). Ferry transit costs are generally integrated into this ticket.

Step-by-step bus route sequence

The cross-country journey progresses sequentially through three distinct island regions via the eastern highway corridor:

1. Mindanao leg (Davao to Surigao)

• Departure: Leaves DCOTT in Davao City.
• Transit pipeline: Tagum City, then Monkayo, then San Francisco, then Butuan City, then Kitcharao, then Lipata Port (Surigao City).

2. Visayas transit leg (Leyte and Samar)

• First sea crossing: The bus boards a RoRo ferry crossing the Surigao Strait from Lipata Port to Liloan Port or San Ricardo Port in Southern Leyte.
• Island drive: Drives through Sogod, Bato, Baybay, Tacloban City, crosses the San Juanico Bridge into Samar Island, and continues north through Calbayog City to reach Allen Port (Northern Samar).

3. Luzon leg (Sorsogon to PITX)

• Second sea crossing: Boards a RoRo ferry crossing the San Bernardino Strait from Allen Port to Matnog Port (Sorsogon).
• Final highway stretch: Travels through the Bicol Region (Naga City), Quezon Province (Lucena), Laguna (Calamba), and uses the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to arrive at PITX.

Practical bus tips

• Advanced booking available: Unlike shorter regional lines, you can arrange advance ticket reservations for this multi-day route by contacting Davao Metro Shuttle directly.
• Onboard amenities: DMS deploys premium coaches for this route, generally featuring individual USB charging ports and an onboard restroom.
• Meal stops: The bus makes designated prolonged stops at major roadside dining spots along the way. Keep small cash denominations ready, as card or digital wallet acceptance is limited along rural highways.