Even with Rama’s objection, terminal asks for ratification

CEBU, Philippines - Then management of One Citilink Transport Terminal, Inc. has appealed for the Cebu City Council to ratify its contract with the city government so it can continue its operation.

Mayor Michael Rama earlier announced that the city would not to renew the contract as it allegedly violates a provision of a city ordinance prohibiting the operation of a terminal near a hospital.

In addition, the mayor had said, the terminal is hounded by corruption issues.

A product of public-private partnership, the One Citilink Terminal started operating in 2003 on a 1.8-hectare property beside the Cebu City Medical Center along Natalio Bacalso Avenue.

In a June 2, 2014 letter to the City Council, One Citilink lawyer Ralph Sevilla said there is a need to ratify the terminal’s accreditation since all pertinent documents such as business permit, Memorandum of Agreement, and an existing certificate of accreditation, were already submitted.

Sevilla’s letter countered the report of City Administrator Lucelle Mercado, who said Citilink has yet to comply with all requirements.

Under Section 6 of Cebu City Ordinance No. 1958 (An Ordinance Regulating the Establishment and Operation of Terminal for Public Jeepney and V-hire Vehicles in Cebu City, repealing City Ordinance No. 1773), no business permit shall be issued unless a certificate of accreditation has been issued by the city’s Terminal Accreditation Committee.

The same ordinance also set that no terminal shall start operation unless and until a MOA shall have been entered between the city and the terminal management.

Mercado had said the MOA with One Citilink expired on August 3, 2008 yet, as its contract with the city was only valid for five years.

However, Sevilla said the existing contract and MOA signed and entered into by both parties would end only next year, as Citilink already settled a 10-year accreditation fee to cover 2003 to 2013.

“Please take note that our client had already long submitted to this honorable august body, in its capacity as PUJ/V-Hire terminal accreditation body, all the documents mentioned and enumerated by the city administrator,” Sevilla said.

 â€œOur client would just want to convey this message of exasperation over the situation,” he added.

He reminded that when the city government saw it has an obligation to set up a transport terminal, it tapped the private sector to invest and undertake the project and Citilink responded.

“When it cannot provide (funding), it invited the private sector to come to its rescue and now that (Citilink) has spent good money and investment to answer the call of the city, the latter want it closed,” read part of Sevilla’s letter.

Citilink maintained that that closing the terminal would put the city in an awkward situation since it (Citilink) is the only accredited PUJ/V-hire terminal operating in the south of Cebu City.

Sevilla said closing One Citilink “for baseless grounds” would put the city in a situation where it violates its own ordinances, including those on the proper disembarking and embarking, aside from causing inconvenience to passengers.   (FREEMAN)