Mayor Rama eyes closure of Citilink

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants One Citilink Terminal to be closed saying it allegedly violates the city ordinance prohibiting the construction of a terminal near a hospital.

Rama also said the said terminal must be closed because of "grave corruption" and that there is something wrong with its operations.

"With CCMC being there iklaro gyod na and i-revisit ang ordinance kay di man ta gusto mo-continue diha ang terminal," Rama said.

"My position as mayor is that should be stopped and if it cannot be stopped, I cannot foreclose and close my eyes nga naa'y corruption diha ngano hinay man kaayo ma-stop. Sirhan man gani nato ang uban, kana naman nuon," he added.

 "Basta naa'y terminal naa'y corruption, anywhere, everywhere. Naa gani dispatching along that level naa'y corruption," he added.

Rama questioned why the dispatchers were not arrested considering that dispatching is a violation of the law.

"Ngano waa man dakpa? So naa'y nibarog? Naa'y collector?"

 Rama explained that without dispatchers traffic order will be observed and congestion will be lessened because people will be disciplined.

 Meanwhile, Cebu Treasurer's Office has asked One Citilink Terminal, Inc. to pay its delinquency fees to the city, amounting to 15 percent of terminal income/fee and accreditation fee.

 Rama said yesterday that the city will collect what is due to the city.

 However, in a letter dated last December 11, One Citilink Terminal, Inc. President Albert Lim clarified that they already settled their dues to the city. The letter was copy furnished to the City Council last January 8.

 "Respectfully, One Citilink management is glad to inform you that we already settled our terminal accreditation fee CY-2003-2013. Just to set the record straight, ever since it started its operations, it has complied and settled all its obligations with the city government," Lim said.

 However, Lim said they could not secure their accreditation certificate, which would be the basis of the accreditation fee, because the Cebu City Terminal Accreditation Committee has not been convened and has been non-existent since 2007.

"We have no intention of not religiously complying with or paying the same," he said.

 Also, Lim said One Citilink has even proposed to the TAC and CTO for a monthly benchmark payment but they said they have not yet received any response from the city.

The setting of the benchmark would have spared the city government from spending on salaries of personnel and other operational expenses.

Lim pointed out that last November, they paid Cebu City the 15-percent share of the city from its actual count and monthly gross sales on terminal income for the month of October 2013.

Lim added that they have started paying their yearly terminal accreditation for the period of 2013-2016.   (FREEMAN)