DAVAO CITY — A free transit app built by a 17-year-old Grade 12 student has climbed into the Top 10 Free Apps in Google Play’s Maps and Navigation category. The app gives Dabawenyos a simpler way to plan their daily jeepney and DC Bus rides.
Francisco Navalta of Assumption College of Davao built DavaoGo: Dabawenyo Commuter Guide on his own, with no team and no outside backing.
“I didn’t expect DavaoGo to reach that milestone,” Navalta said in Bisaya. “As a student who developed it alone, this is a big achievement for me. I’m grateful to everyone who downloaded, shared, and supported the app.”
From Roblox to Real-World Tech
Navalta started coding at 12, teaching himself by building games on Roblox. That hobby grew into a business. He later founded FranCheese, which supplies plug-and-play development systems to more than 600 Roblox creators and has earned over ₱1 million in revenue.
Running FranCheese taught him to listen to users, offer good support, and keep improving. He now applies those same habits to DavaoGo.
“Eventually, I wanted to build something that could help people in real life,” he said.
What the App Does
DavaoGo organizes routes, stops, and fares using public route data from the LTFRB. Navalta updates it regularly based on user feedback and reports.
Core features include:
- Jeepney and DC Bus route and stop guides
- Fare estimates
- A clean, minimalist layout for commuters in a hurry
- SANI, a multilingual assistant that answers questions in the user’s preferred language
A Personal Touch
SANI carries special meaning. Navalta named the assistant after his late father.
“He was very kind and one of the people closest to my heart,” he shared. “I want him to be remembered through my project.”
Giving Back
The app has also become a channel for helping neighbors. After a fire struck Carpenter, Barangay Leon Garcia in Agdao, DavaoGo featured donation drives for affected families.
“For me, technology isn’t just about convenience,” Navalta said. Sharing the drives, he added, helps more people learn about the situation and find ways to help.
What’s Next
DavaoGo remains an independent project. It is not affiliated with the Davao City Government, the LTFRB, or any transport agency. Navalta covers development, maintenance, and costs himself while keeping his Grade 12 studies a priority.
His next goal is reaching iPhone users once he can afford the Apple Developer Program fee. Real-time vehicle tracking is also on his list, though integration with the official DC Bus tracking system has yet to be approved.
Until then, he plans to keep refining routes and features, guided by feedback from the commuters who use the app every day.