South bus terminal cuts costs to reach quota

THE Cebu South Bus Terminal is employing cost-cutting measures and is strictly implementing policies to reach its target quota this year.

Terminal manager Carmen Quijano said she aims to reach her revenue quota of P65 million for 2013 despite the scrapped P5 entrance fee and reduction of parking fee.

She plans to cut on power and water consumption and strictly enforce parking rules, especially at night. She also bans overnight parking at the terminal.

“Karon I cannot assure nga moabot pa ta ana,” Quijano said on the P65.1-million 2012 terminal revenue, considering that the parking fee was reduced from P200 to P150.

She said terminal receipts reached P5.6 million last January. It could be less for February when they started collecting reduced parking fees.

Quijano said the terminal is prepared for the Holy Week. She has already asked for additional guards and janitors.

She has also asked bus drivers to secure special permits to travel out-of-line in case of bus shortage.

Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Director Ahmed Cuizon said the special permit only costs P130.

Cebu Bus Operators Association (CBOA) invited Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale and gubernatorial candidate Hilario Davide III to a lunch meeting to discuss issues and problems at the terminal.

CBOA president Richard Corominas and Cebu South Mini Bus operators association (CSMBOA) president Julito Flores thanked Magpale for the 25 percent reduction of the terminal parking fee.

The group’s 35 members have a total of 140 buses.

The group asked if it is possible to reduce the parking fee further. Magpale said it is for the Economic Enterprise Council (EEC) to decide.

Magpale said Capitol lost P8.5 million in terminal income because of the reduction and scrapping of entrance fee.

“Dili kinahanglan mo-ginansya, we have to balance business and profit,” Magpale said.

CSMBO officers assured more mini-buses will be fielded due to the reduced parking fee.

In the meeting, operators aired their problems, one of which is being asked to repeatedly pay parking fees, especially at night.

They asked to be allowed to stay long in the terminal at night.

Quijano said this is not possible because it will deprive the terminal of more collection. This will prevent them from collecting more fees from other buses.

Quijano said some bus drivers and conductors sleep inside their parked units in the terminal to wait for their first trip in the morning.

“Some even sleep inside the air-conditioned waiting area and dry their T-shirts and shoes in front of the air-con unit,” Quijano said.

She stopped this practice to save on electricity. From P800,000 monthly power bill, she brought it down to P659,000.