CH not obliged to provide terminal for vans-for-hire

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government has “no legal obligation” to provide for a public transport terminal for vans-for-hire, according to a traffic management body official.

The city government recently shut down One Citilink Terminal, which catered to south-bound vans-for-hire and minibuses, due to permit violations.

Vans-for-hire that used to drop off and pick passengers there are now accommodated at the Taboan Public Market in Barangay San Nicolas Proper.

“Taboan Market must be maintained as a place of interest for local and foreign tourists - those buying dried fish and other delicacies. Converting Taboan Market into a terminal is an anti-thesis to that thrust of maintaining it as such place of interest,” said lawyer Rey Gealon, the new executive director of Cebu City Traffic Office, formerly known as the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management.

“At the end of the day, van-for-hire operations have to move out to another area and preferably, not in the city… The name of the game is to minimize the volume of traffic within the city,” he said further.

Gealon said what the city government currently undertakes is a moral obligation to provide comfort and safety to passengers travelling to the south.

“Notwithstanding, the city made it sure that peace and order be maintained in the area, especially for v-hire passengers and drivers,” he said.

On July 29, Gealon conferred with San Nicolas Proper Barangay Captain Abraham Desamparado and with San Nicolos Police Station acting chief Police Inspector Alejandro Lopez for the deployment of barangay tanods and police personnel for visibility and foot patrol.

“I have requested for three personnel each to be stationed in the vicinity of Taboan Public Market, particularly in its parking lot which is now temporarily utilized as the loading and unloading area of vans-for-hire for the maintenance of peace and order and to ensure the safety and security of passengers and drivers,” he said.

For a temporary terminal for van-for-hires, the city government formulated initiatives for an immediate action to unclog traffic flow particularly near the market.

City Administrator Lucelle Mercado said those plying the route going to Balamban town can be accommodated at the North Bus Terminal in Mandaue City.

The city likewise plans to use the area at the back of Prince Warehouse which used to be utilized as a Devotee City during Sinulog as a temporary terminal for the routes going to Toledo City, Sibonga and Badian.

With this, the city government is preparing for the guidelines of the temporary terminal to ensure orderly, safety and convenience of the passengers. The terminal will be operational this Saturday.

Mercado said the city is also eyeing an area between the boundary of Cebu City and Barangay Tabunok, Talisay City as a site for the terminal of vans-for-hire that would operate outside the city.

Mayor Michael Rama had pronounced that he wants terminals to be situated outside the city to better manage public transport amid the worsening traffic problems.  (FREEMAN)