Balamban-bound v-hires now use South Bus Terminal

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) will serve as temporary station for vans-for-hire travelling to Balamban town from Cebu City.

Provincial information officer Ethel Natera confirmed Governor Hilario Davide III has approved the request for CSBT to serve as terminal but clarified not all 100 vans-for-hire will be accommodated inside owing to space limitation. 

Lawyer Rey Gealon, acting executive director of the Cebu City Transportation Office, also said the city received a letter from Davide informing CCTO of the governor’s intention to allocate a portion of the terminal for the vans.

The CSBT along Natalio Bacalso Avenue is managed by the provincial government.

“The Provincial Government of Cebu through [Davide] allows the Balamban v-hires to occupy a portion of the Cebu South Bus Terminal as a temporary station of all vans-for-hire plying the route from Balamban - TransCentral Highway - Cebu City and vice versa,” reads a February 2 letter.

Some vans have started using CSBT since Thursday.

Gealon said the request to use the terminal came from an official from Balamban, which CCTO channeled to the provincial government.

He said Davide’s decision is a welcome development because it will de-clog the area used as temporary terminal for vans-for-hire. The formal terminal, the Citilink Terminal also along Natalio Bacalso Avenue, was ordered closed by the city government.

“This is a welcome development for the city as this would de-clog the area behind the Senior Citizens Park where these v-hires are temporarily situated and thus, provide more parking spaces for the city government employees and those transacting business at City Hall,” he told reporters.

Around 200 south-bound v-hires still remain at the temporary terminal near the City Hall, including those traveling to Toledo City, Sibonga, and Pinamungajan.

At present, CSBT is fielding more than 200 buses and mini-buses on regular days.

Traffic violations

Meanwhile, at least 80 cases have been filed before the Municipal Trial Courts in Cities since the start of the year until February 4 against drivers who violated City Ordinance 801 or the Traffic Code of Cebu City.

Violations, Gealon said, include disregarding traffic signs and reckless driving.

“CCTO is urging traffic offenders to settle and pay the corresponding fines at the Traffic Violations Bureau before it reaches the courts. Those that are already facing criminal cases of this nature have to settle it in court with an additional fine of P1500,” he said.

“So far, there are around 400 standing bench and alias warrants of arrests against traffic offenders for failure to appear on their scheduled hearings before the MTCC,” Gealon added.  (FREEMAN)