Private mini bus terminals approved

CEBU, Philippines - An ordinance that allows operators of mini buses to own their own private terminals was approved by the City Council on third and final deliberation yesterday.

With the Council’s nod, it is now up to Mayor Tomas Osmeña to approve or veto the legislation.

The ordinance, sponsored by Councilor Sylvan Jakosalem, aims to decongest the Cebu South Bus Terminal by giving operators of minibuses the option to open or own their private terminals. Jakosalem chairs the Council’s committee on transportation.

Should the ordinance gets the Mayor’s approval, it would, in effect, amend City Ordinance 1784 passed in 1999, which requires Public Utility Buses, including mini buses from the south, to load and unload passengers at the South Bus Terminal.

Jakosalem’s ordinance, however, states that the private terminals would still be subject to restrictions and approval by the city.

Jakosalem said the presence of mini buses at the South Bus Terminal had contributed immensely to the worsening traffic situation within and outside the existing terminal.

Commuters and owners and operators of both buses and mini buses have, time and time again, complained of the traffic situation at the South Bus Terminal.

Recently the Cebu South Mini Bus Operators Association expressed concern over the problems hounding the South Bus Terminal, including overcrowding, traffic congestion inside and within the premises of the terminal, and parking confusion arising from the increasing numbers of mini buses and PUBs.

Osmeña and Vice Mayor Michael Rama themselves proposed to transfer the South Bus Terminal to a bigger space.

A study conducted by the UP National Center for Transportation Studies Foundation Inc., entitled “Cebu Public Transport Terminal Study” duly recommended that another terminal should be authorized in the south to alleviate congestion in the existing bus terminal and to accommodate mini buses that are using the streets as terminal.