17-year-old developer builds app to make commuting easier in Davao

• Courtesy of Francisco Navalta

A 17-year-old self-taught developer from Davao City has developed a free Android application designed to help commuters navigate the city's jeepney and bus routes, estimate fares, and plan their daily trips.

Francisco Navalta, the young developer behind "DavaoGo," created the application after noticing that many public transportation navigation platforms primarily focus on Metro Manila, leaving commuters in other cities with fewer options for planning their journeys.

The app provides route planning specifically designed for Davao City's public transportation system, allowing users to find available jeepney and bus routes, compare travel options, and receive walking directions.

“Most commute apps focus on Metro Manila, so I made one built around Davao’s jeepney and bus routes,” Navalta said.

Unlike conventional navigation applications that primarily provide driving directions, DavaoGo focuses on the needs of public transportation passengers, including those unfamiliar with the city's routes.

Through the application, commuters can search for destinations, compare route options based on estimated travel time and fares, and access GPS-based navigation to guide them throughout their trips. The platform also features a bus tracker designed to display vehicle locations, routes, and schedules in one place.

Another feature is "SANI," a built-in virtual assistant that allows commuters to ask questions about routes, stops, and fares.

Users can also save frequently visited places, preferred routes, and trips for easier access, eliminating the need to repeatedly search for the same destinations.

DavaoGo includes a community feature where commuters can share route information and transportation updates to help other passengers navigate the city.

The application supports English, Filipino, and Bisaya, making its features accessible to a wider range of commuters in Davao City. It also offers light and dark display themes. Navalta said he independently developed the application, combining several commuting tools into one platform specifically intended for Davao residents.

DavaoGo is described as an independent commuter and public transport navigation application and is available for Android users.