Major changes at south bus terminal starting next week

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu South Bus Terminal will implement two major changes starting next Saturday, October 29.

Starting on that day, it will limit the number of so-called priority passengers in each trip and will no longer allow taxi cabs and private vehicles to enter the bus terminal.

Terminal chief Joy Herrera said this is in anticipation of the influx of crowds travelling for All Souls’ and All Saints’ Day.

As regards priority passengers, Herrera said limiting the number would allow more space for regular passengers per trip. Considered priority passengers are pregnant women, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities (PWDs).

“Pananglitan kung ang sa Ceres nga linya, via Bato to Oslob, ig-abot sa alas syete sa gabii nga bus nga scheduled mo-depart, naa nay 20 ka priority naglingkod, ang first 10 ray pasudlon para ma-decongest nato ang other passengers who are waiting” Herrera said.

“Ang ako ra gusto ipasabot gyud nila nga priority sila in a sense nga gipasulod  sila diretso, wala na sila molinya, pero first come, first served gihapon inig sakay sa bus kay mo-insister ra ba gyud sila nga mouna sila,” Herrera said further.

If the priority passengers have company, which is often the case, only one will be allowed to accompany them at the waiting area.

Meanwhile, Herrera said they have decided to disallow taxis and private vehicles from entering the terminal because some passengers would no longer fall in line and simply proceeded to the buses straight from their vehicles.

Passengers heading to the south will have to use Entrance 1 while those heading west will have to use Entrance 2.

“So ato gusto ipaabot nga Entrance 1 are those destinations to Carcar, Sibonga Simala. Ceres, kanang mosakay og Ceres anha sa entrance 1 mas maayo, Sunrays ug MetroLink  nga rota which is Bato Barili anha dinha sa Entrance 1. Sa ato pa, didto sa Entrance 2, we encourage them nga mao ra gyud na ang Toledo, Pinamungajan, Balamban, kanang sa West side ba, Tuburan.” Herrera said.

Huge crowds

If crowds will be huge next week, Herrera said Plan B, as far as the entry of passengers is concerned, will be executed.

“Ang Plan B nato, kanang entrance para sa regular passengers, anha na sa tunga, kanang, naa bitaw sa waiting shed sa jeepney stop, unya naa man nay gate dinha nga tawo ra ang makasulod,kilid na siya sa  entrance and exit gate sa vehicles or sa buses, anha na mosulod dinha ang mga pasahero,” Herrera said.

Terminal personnel will be assisting passengers and tents and portalets will be set up at the front area of the terminal.

On Monday, the city and provincial governments will lend vehicles to the terminal, including two Kaohsiung buses.

“To address later on, daghan nya ang priority nga natanggong unya wala nay bus, in an hour, that’s the time nga mo-deploy na ang management sa bus nga among gihulam… kato bitaw kang vice gov and gov nga Suroy-suroy  coaster, ako na gihulman for  Sat and Sun… that’s only for priority para mahurot na sila tanan. Kung  moabot ang punto nga usa ka oras wala na gyud ka byahe ba,” Herrera explained. (FREEMAN)