CEBU, Philippines — The 25-year-old Cebu North Bus Terminal needs to be relocated somewhere after the Mandaue City government decided not to renew the lease contract of the lot it occupies in Barangay Subangdaku.
Where to relocate the terminal, which is serving at least 5,000 to 6,000 passengers from the northern towns daily, is now a problem of the Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association (CPBOA) that is operating the terminal.
CPBOA president Zosimo Jumao-as is seeking the help of the Cebu provincial government to provide them the needed relocation.
“Mangayo pa mi og tabang sa Cebu provincial government og relocation site kay daku kaayo ning problema sa lugar. Mag-meeting pa ang cooperative ani then we will set an appointment with Governor (Gwendolyn) Garcia,” Jumao-as told The Freeman.
Jumao-as said it would be chaotic for the passengers without a terminal.
“Magkaguliyang gyud ang mga pasahero kung walay bag-o nga north bus terminal,” he said.
The lease contract between the cities of Cebu and Mandaue is set to expire on October. Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes has already signified his intention of not renewing the contract to give way to the construction of a new government center that will house a police station and a fire station in the area.
The Cebu City government rented the property for the construction of the terminal as part of the requirement of a loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).
Mandaue City applied for a loan from JBIC but was required to put up a bus terminal. However, the city did not want to operate a terminal prompting it to enter a lease contract with the city of Cebu. Afraid that its own loan application then for the South Reclamation Project will be affected, the city government of Cebu agreed to the proposal from Mandaue City.
“Kay kaniadto man gud, the Mandaue City government does not want to operate a terminal unya kay gi-require man gyud na sa bank magtukod gyud og terminal para pud sa ilang loan. Unya ang Cebu City at that time naa sila pending loan for the SRP project. Kuyawan sila og mapagan niya sila basin dili e-grant ilang loan, mao na nga nagka-agree na lang nga e-lease sa Cebu City ang terminal,” Jumao-as said.
According to Jumao-as, both cities of Mandaue and Cebu are not obligated to provide a relocation site.
“Kasagaran gyud natong mga pasahero kay taga probinsiya sa Sugbo. Mao na nga mangayo mi og tabang sa provincial government nga unta naa silay lugar para himoong terminal,” Jumao-as said.
Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella said he has yet to discuss with Cortes on the issue.
“I have to discuss, I have a meeting with the Mayor of Mandaue and of course with the transport groups,” said Labella.
Labella did not discount the possibility of relocating the terminal in Cebu City.
“Everything is possible, that is why we really have to discuss this with the Mayor of Mandaue,” Labella said.
Provincial Board Member Thadeo “Jonkie” Ouano said it is the mayor’s prerogative not to renew the lease contract. He, however, believes that the provincial government will try its best to assist.
“We have not talk pa with Gov. Gwen regarding the status of the north bus terminal. We will just wait for her instructions,” Ouano said.
For Subangdaku Barangay Captain Ernie Manatad, the city government’s plan to build a police station and a fire station in the area is a welcome development.
“We welcome that proposal to donate a portion of that city property for barangay Subangdaku government center which also include a police station and fire station,” Manatad said. FPL (FREEMAN)