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Thursday, June 21, 2007
City eyes transfer of province-owned bus terminal
By Rene H. Martel
CEBU CITY -- In a move that could be seen as a way to get back at the Capitol, Cebu City traffic officials on Wednesday recommended for the transfer of the Province-owned Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) from its present location on N. Bacalso Ave.
And if a Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) official were to have his way, he wants the terminal transferred to either Minglanilla or Naga town.
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Or, somewhere at the South Coastal Road at the boundary of Talisay City and the South Road Properties so it would be closer to Cebu City, said Citom Executive Director Arnel Tancinco.
During its meeting Wednesday, the Citom board gave the traffic body’s planning division two weeks to identify possible relocation areas of the terminal.
The board gave the order Wednesday after a discussion on “saturated areas,” or streets clogged up by vehicles, like N. Bacalso Ave.
“The (planning) division was tasked to look for a potential area considered as new location for the (Cebu) South (Bus) Terminal,” said Tancinco.
Preliminary study
Tancinco added that the preliminary study would serve as guide, but it is up to the City Government how to implement it, considering that the City is currently at odds with the Capitol.
Tancinco, however, clarified that the study is not the City’s way of getting back at the Capitol, saying the Citom board’s sole concern is improving traffic flow.
Capitol officials, for their part, merely said they are glad that the City Government will be looking into the traffic flow at the CSBT, which, according to records at the Provincial Treasurer’s Office, earned P21 million in 2006 and P9 million from January to May this year.
Capitol consultant Rory Jon Sepulveda, however, refused to speculate what the Province would do should the City Government eventually decide to close the CSBT.
“We will cross the bridge when we get there and we will watch her,” referring to Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.
Garcia, for her part, said: “The Citom is doing what it should have done a long time ago. In fact I understand they are studying a lot of traffic problems, including Banilad. I hope they are done with that study also. Or are they still going for an MA or PHD for the traffic in Banilad?”
City Planning Officer Paul Villarete, in a separate interview, said Citom was tasked to do a traffic study of N. Bacalso Ave. The terminal is considered as a contributor to the traffic problem in the area.
Letter-complaint
He said a letter-complaint made by mini-bus drivers precipitated the discussion during Wednesday’s meeting.
The letter came from Carcar mini-bus drivers, who argued that San Fernando mini-buses should be unloading and loading passengers at the New Citilink Terminal, which is a block away, instead of at the CSBT.
“They have been complaining that the area is already congested, so the Citom planning was requested to make a study. For example, if we should add more parking bays,” Villarete said.
Tancinco said the study would include looking for other areas where the terminal could be transferred. It would also take into consideration “arterial road accessibility.”
If the terminal is moved elsewhere, the Capitol would have the flexibility of choosing the architectural design.
Meanwhile, despite the authority given by the Provincial Board, Governor Garcia will not sue Fifth Avenue, the developer of the stalled Ciudad project.
After a “lengthy” meeting with the developer Tuesday afternoon, Sepulveda said they found that Fifth Avenue Property Development Corp. has done its part.
“As of now, the governor is authorized to institute the necessary actions. Theoretically, one of which is to implead the developer. But…our initial thought on the matter was supported by the report rendered by the developer to us that (they have indeed) undertaken all the necessary steps, all their obligations and undertakings under our contract to proceed with the project,” said Sepulveda.
Still on process
The Cebu City Planning and Development Office issued a certification to Fifth Avenue, saying that the application for locational clearance and certificate of zoning compliance for Ciudad is “still on process.”
Sepulveda said that as early as December, Fifth Avenue already complied with the requirements. It’s not true that the applications were not processed because of failure to pay fees, he added.
During initial discussions on the issue, it surfaced that the Capitol may sue the developer for the delay in the project, which the Capitol considers “prejudicial” to its interests. It would be up to Fifth Avenue then, to say that the City Hall continues to sit on the permit applications so the City Government could be dragged to court.
But on Wednesday, Sepulveda said they were on the position that the Capitol and Fifth Avenue “are partners.”
“Both parties will undertake steps so that the Ciudad project will push through,” added Sepulveda.
Fifth Avenue is a consortium of international companies that intends to invest more than P1 billion in Cebu City for a multi-use facility that would rise on a Capitol-owned lot in Banilad.
But after negotiations for a land swap with Capitol failed, the City Government declared a moratorium on development works in Banilad area, citing traffic and the need for a “traffic study.” (With JPM/Sun.Star Cebu)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Iloilo. (June 21, 2007 issue)
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