CSBT closed for grand parade

CEBU, Philippines - Commuters going to south and mid-west Cebu should proceed to the South Road Properties starting late evening Saturday as the Cebu South Bus Terminal along N. Bacalso Avenue will be closed temporarily for the Sinulog grand parade.

Cebu City Traffic Operations Management Operations Chief Jonathan Tumulak said closure of the terminal would start at 11 p.m. on Saturday and will end at 10 p.m. on Sunday.

He said a temporary terminal will be opened at a vacant space in SRP because N. Bacalso Avenue serves as Sinulog grand parade assembly area.

“Para ni mapugngan ang dugang nga influx sa tao kay ang N. Bacalso Avenue gamiton sa rota sa parade and naa diha duol ang atong (Cebu) South Bus Terminal,” Tumulak said.

He said this was agreed upon during a City Hall meeting with bus operators, CITOM, and the Land Transportation Franchising & Regulatory Board-7 last Wednesday.

Because of this, buses coming from the south supposedly for CSBT will turn right under the Mambaling flyover before heading towards the SRP temporary terminal.

“No stopping ang diha ilawom sa Mambaling fly-over.  Adto tanan i-drop ang mga pasahero sa temporary terminal,” Tumulak said.

“Ang gikan sa temporary terminal sa SRP, inig pamauli ana, mogawas sa SRP lahos sa Talisay kay sa Talisay tanan mo-agi tanang pasahero-an,” he added.

At least 100,000 revelers from southern Cebu are expected to flock to Cebu City this Sunday for the Sinulog.

LTFRB-7 has already released special permits to 100 public utility jeepneys that will transport commuters from the SRP temporary terminal to the Compaña Maritima area near the Cebu City Hall.

“Ang gikan sa Cebu City to south, mosakay pod sila sa mga passenger jeep nga gihatagan og special permit sa LTFRB and ang gikan sad og Cebu City nga mo-uli sa south, pwede sila mosakay sa Maritima or sa Mambaling,” Tumulak said.

The Cebu Integrated Transport Service Cooperative provided the PUJ units for this special arrangement. Commuters, though, would still pay the minimum fare rate of P7.

Tumulak said PUJs that do not have the LTFRB-7 permit will not be allowed to ply at the SRP.

Meanwhile, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday confirmed that President Benigno Aquino and Vice President Jejomar Binay will not be attending to any of the Sinulog activities since Pope Francis has already arrived.

The mayor, though, said he understand why the top two officials of the country could not come.

He invited both Aquino and Binay through their respective offices but no feedback from them.

Rama, however, said he still has to attend to VIP guests during the Sinulog grand parade this Sunday. He, however, declined to divulge the names of the guests.  (FREEMAN)