Stop the Cebu toilet fees now!

When nature calls, it should not cost P10 to answer especially not in a province whose previous governor proudly claims to be the richest in the country.

Yet this is exactly what the Cebuanos experience when passing through our bus terminals. At the Cebu North Bus Terminal (CNBS), there are no free comfort rooms. At the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT), the so-called “free” CRs are abandoned, broken, and useless which is equivalent to having no free CRs at all. Commuters are left with no choice but to pay.

This burden stems from a toilet fee collection deal entered into by former Governor Gwen Garcia and Mister Loo Philippines. For many commuters, especially the poor, it is a daily hardship. Imagine a mother travelling with four children, all needing to use the toilet. That’s P50 gone--not for food, not for drinks, not even for fare, but for a basic bodily necessity.

Let’s be candid: this is an act of no mercy to the maximum level. It is deeply ironic that the former governor boasts that Cebu is the richest province in the country yet cannot provide its people with a basic, free restroom in a public terminal.

Good riddance that the former governor lost in the May 12 election. Many people are relieved, hopeful that this exploitative system will now be stopped by the new governor.

However, Minter Loo Philippines insists on continuing the toilet collection, citing a contract signed by the previous governor that runs until 2028 and is renewable. Mister Loo claims the new governor cannot terminate it arbitrarily.

This is where incumbent Governor Pam Baricuatro must step in with decisiveness and compassion. She must terminate the scandalous contract with Mister Loo Philippines on at least two grounds: (1) it is contrary to law, and (2) it is grossly disadvantageous to the provincial government.

First, RA 11311 expressly prohibits the collection of fees for the use of regular sanitary facilities in public terminals. However, both the CNBT and CSBT fail to provide accessible, functioning free toilets. In the case of CSBT, an abandoned public toilet exists merely to give a false appearance of compliance—while in reality, commuters are forced to use Mister Loo’s paid toilets. This set up is a blatant violation of the law, rendering the contract legally questionable.

Second, the contract is grossly disadvantageous to the government. The previous governor agreed to a scandalous revenue-sharing scheme with Mister Loo. Only 5% of the toilet fees go to the provincial government, while a staggering 95% goes to Mr. Loo. Such an arrangement is clearly lopsided and not in the best interest of the public.

Official records I obtained show that for one year, from July 2024 to June 2025, the provincial government received the 5% of the total toilet fee collections. Based on the figures, the combined revenue from the CNBT and CSBT terminals reached P14.8 million. And the government’s share? A measly P700,000, while Mr. Loo walked away with over P14 million. Where is justice in this arrangement?

It is beyond imagination that a former governor known for never being on the losing end of any deal, would agree to such terms. Naturally, this raises serious and unavoidable questions: Who is Mister Loo? What kind of connection does it have with the former governor? Why, out of all capable providers, was it chosen for such a business? Does Mister Loo, which earns P14 million a year from this, share with Gwen in exchange for this golden opportunity? Do they have a separate agreement beyond the public eye? Just asking!

During Gwen’s term, she was quick to terminate valid, existing contracts when it served her interest. Can Pam, the people’s governor, be courageous enough to cancel a contract that is clearly scandalous and unjust? Or can she find another way to fulfill her promise of providing free and decent toilets for the people of Cebu?