Garcia: V-hire terminal violates Cebu City law

DRIVERS of van-for-hire (V-hire) who are temporarily using the vacant lot in Barangay Kamagayan as a terminal are paying higher dues to the Cebu City Government compared to other big business establishments, said Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

But for Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia, allowing the operation of the “illegal” V-hire terminal is a blatant violation of City Ordinance (CO) 1958.

In his news conference yesterday, Osmeña said that BDO Unibank is only paying the City P408,000 business taxes for its 24 branches in the city.

But at least 200 V-hire drivers paid P446,000 dues to the City. A V-hire driver is paying P100 a day to the City for using the area, he said.

“What are they trying to accuse me? Anti-business? Look at them (V-hire drivers), they’re not SM and Ayala, they’re small businessmen, why we should stop that?” Osmeña said.

In a separate interview, Garcia said that Osmeña has been claiming that he is against graft and corruption, but the mayor did not run after those who were not following the law.

Garcia said the operation of the terminal violated several provisions of CO 1958, which included the prohibition on establishing the facility within the 300-meter radius from a block that includes the central downtown area.

No terminals should also be located near schools, churches, hospitals and other public buildings, he added.

Garcia said the one in Barangay Kamagayan violated the provisions, prompting him to file a complaint against the mayor.