THE Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) has clarified its new bus stop scheme for provincial buses entering the city, saying designated bus stops will only serve southbound vehicles coming into the city, not those leaving for the provinces.
Two potential locations under consideration are near Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) and the University of San Jose-Recoletos (USJ-R).
Officials said the move is meant to ease traffic along the city’s southern corridor, one of its most congested stretches. The policy has triggered confusion and complaints from both passengers and operators, prompting city officials to clarify what exactly
is changing.
The rule for provincial buses
The CCTO stressed that only southbound buses entering the city are affected. These buses will no longer be allowed to pick up or drop off passengers freely along the road.
Instead, the City is eyeing designated stops near CIT-U and the USJ-R. The exact sites are still being studied.
For buses leaving Cebu City toward the province, no new bus stop scheme is being imposed.
Why is the City enforcing this
Officials point to years of traffic congestion caused by buses unloading and loading passengers in busy areas like Barangays Pardo, Basak and Mambaling. Mayor Nestor Archival has argued that 60–70 percent of the traffic buildup in the southern corridor comes from these stops.
Although the rule against roadside loading has long existed, it was rarely followed. The City is now enforcing it strictly under the Discipline Zone program, which covers the stretch from the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) to the Bulacao Bridge.
How is the rule being enforced
Before: Violators got citation tickets; the rule was often ignored.
Now: Drivers caught stopping illegally are issued temporary operator’s permits, meaning their licenses can be confiscated until fines are paid.
The crackdown is a joint effort by the CCTO, the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
So far, compliance has been high. CCTO head Raquel Arce said fewer than 20 buses have been apprehended since the stricter enforcement began.
Reactions
Many passengers complain the policy makes travel costlier and longer. Students and workers who normally get off along N. Bacalso Ave. now have to pay extra for jeepney rides from the CSBT.
Bus operators argue the enforcement was too abrupt and lacked consultation. They prefer the installation of official bus stops rather than forcing all passengers to alight at the CSBT.
What happens next
The CCTO says discussions on the final locations of bus stops are still underway and must go through the Traffic Management Board before any implementation.
Until then, the rule remains: provincial buses can only travel point-to-point, from their origin straight to the CSBT, without stopping anywhere else inside Cebu City. / CAV