Citilink closure takes toll on riding public

CEBU, Philippines - Not just van-for-hire drivers and operators but also passengers are caught in the middle of the conflict between the Cebu City government and One Citilink Terminal, Inc.

A month after the closure of the terminal along N. Bacalso Avenue beside where the new Cebu City Medical Center building would be built, passengers are left confused where exactly they must ride v-hires in going home.

Leslie Segismar, who used to ride v-hires in going to Cebu City from Don Andres Soriano in Toledo City three times a week, said she opted to take other means of transportation as she was confused as to where the v-hires has been operating now.

She travels to Cebu City regularly for health check-ups, weekly grocery, and family-related appointments.

Mayor Michael Rama ordered One Citilink Terminal closed on July 28 since allegedly because it does not have a business permit and has unpaid obligations to the city.

The v-hires are currently using the lot at the back of La Nueva Supermarket near City Hall as makeshift terminal.  Segismar, though, prefers Citilink because it is more convenient than the temporary terminal.

“Wala napahimutang og tarong. Kung mag-uwan kay lapok ug magbanaw pa gyud sa tubig unya tent nga gamit buslot pa gyud. Kon init kay abog unya init kaayo,” she said, referring to the temporary terminal near Compania Maritima.

“Hasol pa jud kay tuyuonon kaayo ang lugar, mas layo man siya. Mag-taxi na lang ko, mas maayo man to sa una kay dapit sa highway,” she added.

She also said that before, when they see that a lot of people are riding v-hires, they could just walk to the Cebu South Bus Terminal and ride buses in going home.

She lamented that the security at the temporary terminal is not reliable as it is an open area.

“Hadlok kay daghan unya og snatcher. Kon tinggabii kay mingaw ug ngit-ngit kuyaw sa tulis,” she said.

Jose Maria Mahusay, another passenger who travels from Cebu City to Balamban in Midwest Cebu every month, shared the same sentiment.

“Naglibog ko tungod kay sa miaging adlaw nakadungog ko nga naay plano nga mangabli og balik ang Citilink pero pagtan-aw nako gabii, wala pa may namasaheroan,” he said.

“Medyo hasol kay layo ang lakawon, unlike sa Citilink nga very convenient kay daghang mangagi nga jeep. Bantang kaayo sa init unya duol pa gyud og dagat unya abog kaayo diri,” he added.

He said further that there is less space to accommodate waiting passengers in the temporary terminal while there are also less stalls or stores where passengers could buy food.

Another passenger, who refused to be named as she works in a government agency, appealed to the concerned officials to heed the concerns of the ordinary people.

“Wala man sila kasabot sa mga tawo nga naapektohan,” she said, adding that people in higher positions should make decisions with public welfare in mind and not their personal interests.

“Kon asa ang mas accessible, mao man gyuy pili-on sa pasahero. Pero usahay ang tawo judgmental ra pud, if developments will be made, maybe this would be a more convenient place considering nga bag-o pa sad ni sila nagsugod diri,” she said referring to the temporary terminal.

To answer complaints that the new terminal is far, the Cebu City Transportation Office deployed two multicabs since last week in providing free rides to v-hire passengers.

The vehicles will traverse from Compania Maritima to Colon Street then to Fuente Osmeña and Colon Street, and vice versa.

CCTO Operations Division Chief Jonathan Tumulak said this initiative was upon the directive of Rama as part of public service.

Each of the two government vehicles can accommodate 10 to 12people at a time. — (FREEMAN)