At just 17 years old, Grade 12 student Francisco Navalta of Assumption College of Davao has independently developed a free commuter application that reached the Top 10 Free Apps in the Maps and Navigation category on Google Play, turning his programming skills into a practical solution for everyday transportation challenges in Davao City.
Called DavaoGo: Dabawenyo Commuter Guide, the application helps commuters navigate local jeepney and DC Bus routes, identify stops, get walking directions and estimate fares. It also allows users to save routes and access SANI, a multilingual virtual assistant designed to answer commuting questions.
Navalta began learning programming at age 12 by creating games on Roblox. His interest eventually expanded beyond gaming as he sought to develop technology that could address real-world problems in his community.
Before launching DavaoGo, he established FranCheese, a business providing development systems to Roblox creators. According to Navalta, the venture served more than 600 creators and generated over ₱1 million in revenue, giving him experience in software development, customer support and business management.
For DavaoGo, Navalta used public transportation data from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to organize routes, stops and fare estimates. He continues to refine the application using feedback from commuters who report missing routes or inaccurate information.
The young developer also gave the application a personal connection through SANI, an assistant named in memory of his late father. The feature allows users to ask for commuting directions in their preferred language.
Beyond transportation, Navalta has used DavaoGo to promote community initiatives, including donation drives for families affected by a fire in Barangay Leon Garcia, Agdao.
Navalta plans to expand its features and eventually make it more accessible to iOS users.
His achievement demonstrates how a student-developed technology project can move beyond the classroom and provide practical assistance to an entire community.
