SEN. Raffy Tulfo has raised concerns that the Cebu Provincial Government, which operates the Cebu North Bus Terminal (CNBT), may be violating the law by charging passengers for access to a premium restroom without providing a free restroom within the terminal.
On May 3, 2025, Tulfo shared video clips on his social media page from the April 24 Senate Committee on Public Services hearing, which included input from officials from the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Tulfo referenced his April 4 visit to CNBT, where he identified several issues with the terminal, including the P10 fee for the premium restroom. He raised concerns over the lack of a free restroom for passengers, which, according to him, may contravene legal requirements.
In response to Tulfo’s comments, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia criticized the senator for not coordinating with the local government and for conducting an inspection without understanding the terminal’s operations. Garcia also defended the restroom fees, stating that Republic Act (RA) 11311 permits the operation of a fee-based deluxe sanitary facility, as long as a separate, free restroom is available nearby. She pointed to the restrooms inside SM City Cebu mall, which is adjacent to the terminal.
During the hearing, Tulfo acknowledged that RA 11311’s Section 5 permits premium restrooms only if a free restroom is also available. He questioned whether CNBT was in compliance with the law. Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Non-Infrastructure Dioscoro Reyes agreed with Tulfo, referencing Section 7 of the law, which imposes a P5,000 daily fine for violations by terminal operators.
LTFRB Executive Director Loumer Bernabe confirmed that the agency had instructed its regional office to issue a show-cause order based on Tulfo’s findings. Penalties will be imposed if the violations are substantiated.
Tulfo also raised concerns about other issues at the terminal, including the wall fans that were turned off during the day. He praised the local government for addressing the issue after his visit. Additionally, he pointed out that CNBT collects substantial fees from bus operators—P250 for the terminal fee and P75 for the arrival fee—but still lacks certain basic facilities like functional pushcarts.
In an April 16 inspection, Garcia defended the paid restroom system and accused Tulfo of disrespecting terminal staff. She clarified that the Mister Loo Philippines (MLP) operates the restrooms at CNBT in partnership with the provincial government, with the P10 restroom and P20 shower fees covering tissue and water.
Garcia also reiterated that free restrooms are available inside SM City Cebu, where CNBT is located rent-free under a usufruct agreement. / EHP