Capitol pursues takeover bid of bus terminal

THE Cebu provincial government is pursuing its plan to take over management of the Cebu North Bus Terminal (CNBT) in Mandaue City.

Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and Provincial Board Member Sun Shimura met with Cebu City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete yesterday to discuss the proposed transfer of management of the terminal from Cebu City to the Capitol.

Shimura told reporters that negotiations went smoothly, but they still have to continue threshing out the details.

“Hopefully, by the end of the year or before the end of Governor Garcia’s term, the North Bus Terminal will have better facilities under the management of the Capitol,” said Shimura.

One of the things they need to settle is the existing contract between the Cebu city government and the Cebu Provincial Bus Operator’s Association, which will expire in 2020.

“There is a need to terminate the agreement between the cooperative and the City of Cebu,” said Shimura.

The land and buildings in the terminal are owned by Mandaue City, which leased it to the Cebu City government. Cebu City in turn outsourced the terminal management to the cooperative.

Shimura said the province wanted to develop the terminal in Mandaue so it would be at par with the South Bus Terminal in Cebu City.

He said the Capitol wanted to manage the North Bus Terminal, a gateway to towns and cities in the north because most of those who use the facility are constituents of the province.