South terminal sees rise in income

CEBU, Philippines - From last year’s income of P54 million, the Cebu Provincial Government is expecting to earn at least P65 million this year from the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT).

CSBT operations manager Carmen Quijano bared their January to May collections this year, which showed that they have earned close to P6 million for the month of May, their biggest total monthly collections so far since January.

As of May, Quijano said, CSBT has already earned over P26 million from all its proceeds in the terminal.

These include the terminal fees on buses, the highest contributor at P100 per bus per entry, passenger terminal fee at P5 per passenger, comfort room fee at P5 per person at the arrival area, taxi stand fee at P10 per entry and rental fees of stalls.

The figures, she said, have made their 2012 P65 million-revenue target doable.

 “I think it is more than enough to prove the quality of management that runs CSBT and the quality of services it offers. And the public knows it,” said Quijano, who also attributed the increase of collections to the influx of travelers going to the south and the increased number of stall renters.

In their meeting with Provincial Administrator Eduardo Habin and CSBT Consultant Jose Ma. Gastardo, Quijano informed that they will make a proposal to the governor to have better taxi stands in the facility.

She said the collectors do not have a comfortable area yet to do their functions. With the amount they are earning, she believes the proposal is appropriate.

The CSBT is providing taxis with stands since late March. Quijano said they have come up with the idea on taxi stands, which was approved by Gastardo, for additional income as well as for the passengers’ convenience.

In May, they have collected P204,480 and P175,900 in April from taxi stand fees.

The successful operation of the Capitol at the South Bus Terminal earlier prompted northern officials to ask Capitol to intervene in the operations of the North Bus Terminal in Mandaue City. — (FREEMAN)