Cebu bus operators back Davide-Magpale tandem

Leaders of bus operators associations in Cebu yesterday expressed their support for the tandem of Liberal Party-Cebu gubernatorial candidate Hilario “Junjun” Davide III and his runningmate Agnes Magpale.

During the meeting of the Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Association and mini bus-operators association attended by 30 members at the Sacred Heart Center, Davide said he “would be fair in his dealings” if he gets elected as governor.

Before her suspension, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia raised the entrance fee of the buses from P100 to P200 per unit which was opposed by the operators.

Davide is running against Rep. Pablo John Garcia of Cebu’s 3rd district.

Magpale later explained to operators why the Economic Enterprise Council (EEC), which she headed granted a 25 percent reduction or a P150 entrance fee of buses at the Cebu South Bus terminal.

Based on computation, the south bus terminal’s revenue will go down to P8.5 million if the entrance fee is reduced by 25 percent.

“I told the members of the EEC that we have to balance between profit and service”, Magpale said.

Magpale also said she ordered South Bus Terminal manager Carmen Quijano to fix the leaks of the water pipes at the terminal to lower the water bills and clean the restrooms.

Julito Flores, president of the mini-bus operators association, told his fellow bus operators to vote for Davide and Magpale for extending their support to the operators.

Flores said Magpale’s decision to lower the entrance fee by 25 percent was a big deal for them.

He said there are 50 bus and mini-bus operators in Cebu and 90 to 95 percent of them will support for Davide and Magpale.

CPBOA president Richard Corominas said their members are free to choose whom to support in this year’s elections but believed that majority of them will support Davide and Magpale.