Gov. Gwen Garcia agrees with Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama who called for the transfer of the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) to the South Road Properties, or somewhere else, due to the worsening traffic congestion along N. Bacalso Ave.
“I really agree with Mayor Mike that pretty soon, the South Bus Terminal must be transferred,” Gov. Garcia said in an exclusive interview with CNN Philippines. “But our vision is integrating both north and south terminals at the SRP because the SRP is right there at the center.”
Cebu Province is the owner and operator of both north and south bus terminals, which are the jump-off points of travelers going to and from the northern and southern parts of Cebu respectively.
“It will become an integrated bus terminal where not only northbound and southbound buses will converge but we could also accommodate jeepneys, taxis, and everything else,” Gov. Garcia added.
In media reports published today, Mayor Rama expressed his desire for CSBT, located along N. Bacalso Ave. in Cebu City, to be transferred to another location to give way to the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit.
“Terminal sa Province (Cebu) has to give way to BRT and has to be at SRP or depende nas Governor kung asa niya ibutang ang terminal aron inig kanaug sa buses, sugaton na lang sa BRT,” Mayor Rama was quoted as saying.
The CBRT project construction has already reached the CSBT area, and the traffic situation in the area is severe.
In order to carry out the plan of moving the terminal, Gov. Garcia said the Capitol will be open to partnerships with the private sector.
She added that the ideal location for the integrated SRP terminal will be an area contiguous to the sea so that a port may also be built to accommodate water taxis and ferries as well.
“It becomes a fully integrated multi-modal terminal,” Gov. Gwen said.
The current location of the CSBT, a prime piece of property, will also be developed by the Capitol in partnership again with the private sector.
“That is also a very ideal, commercially viable property. Of course I will never dispose of it, but we will develop it, again open to private sector partnership, in order to realize more revenues for the Province of Cebu,” she said. | IPA