Advance ticket booking system eyed for CSBT

CEBU, Philippines - The management of the Cebu South Bus Terminal is looking into the possibility of implementing an advance ticket booking system to further achieve smoother operations in the facility, specifically during peak seasons when the number of passengers is too high.

Restituto Dosdos, consultant of the Provincial Capitol for the CSBT, said that they are considering the advance ticketing system, which is practically the same process for booking in boats and airplanes, wherein passengers purchase tickets first before they board the buses.

At present, buses have personnel on board in-charge of taking the fare of the passengers, which they do while transporting to their respective destinations.

While nothing is wrong with the process, Dosdos said that they aim to have a smoother flow of passenger traffic at the CSBT, which he says would be made possible with the ticketing system.

With the said system, Dosdos said passengers can purchase in advance bus tickets instead of lining up at the CSBT just hours or minutes before their trip.

However, bus operators are apparently hesitant to the idea, said CSBT acting operations manager Eddie Dusaban Sr., who disclosed that he already mentioned the idea to some bus operators.

He said some bus operators have said that this would mean hiring of additional personnel to implement the system.

Dosdos said the bus operators are immediately taking the idea negatively without even understanding the full system, which he said needs to be discussed thoroughly.

He explained that they will still be discussing the said system if it would be feasible for the CSBT’s operations.

In some parts of Luzon, the advance booking system is already implemented with bus companies offering online booking to help passengers avoid the hassle of having to wake up early before a trip to buy a ticket and still has the possibility that they would not even be able to travel since buses are already full.

For some bus companies already offering the system online, credit card payments are accepted, as well as over the counter payments through partner banks.  (FREEMAN)