Capitol security consultant Byron Garcia expects the South Bus Terminal to earn more than double as it will undergo modernization this year.
Garcia said some stalls at the terminal will have to go to pave the way for the construction of a passenger waiting area.
The terminal, one of the economic enterprises of the provincial government, has earned over P25 million last year and Garcia hopes that it will double its income by the end of the year.
One of the changes that he recently introduced was to drive away more than 30 ambulant vendors from the terminal.
Garcia said he already received several complaints from bus operators over the “selling of bus seats” made by these ambulant vendors.
“Kasagaran ibaligya ang lingkoranan ug tag P20 ngadto sa mga pasahero. This practice has to be stopped. Makasamok g’yud sila sa mga pasahero,” Garcia said.
He stressed that some of the ambulant vendors were reportedly engaged in pickpocketing and thievery inside the bus.
“Ours is to give service to the public. We are in the business of satisfying our customers. It is no longer safe for these vendors to stay at the terminal,” he added.
When asked by The Freeman whether these vendors will be relocated, Garcia said a resounding “no.”
Last month, a covenant was signed between Capitol officials led by Garcia and southern Cebu minibus operators led by their president, Nick Villahermosa, to end the corrupt practices and unauthorized collection of fees by dispatchers at the terminal.
Part of the agreement provides that bus operators will have to double the payment of terminal fees from P50 to P100.
Garcia added that her sister, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, also wanted to raise the income of the terminal. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/LPM