Cebu South Bus Terminal journal gets checked today

CEBU, Philippines - With or without the approval from the Cebu Province, Cebu City treasurer Ofelia Oliva will inspect today the books of accounts of the Cebu South Bus Terminal.

In an interview, Oliva yesterday said that she is going, along with five other members of the City Treasurer’s Office, to inspect the Books of Accounts for 2004 to 2008 as well as the Financial Statements of the said terminal covering the same period as audited by the Commission on Audit.

“Moadto gyod mi didto for the examination of the books of accounts. Adto lang gyod mi. Og balibaran mi, aw wa mi mahimo; basta kay we exerted all efforts, exhausted all administrative remedies in the collection. After ani, judicial na,” Oliva said in a report over dyHP.

Oliva also said that the CTO team will ask for the community tax certificate for 2009 of the tenants and personnel, a copy of the lease contract of all the tenants; and other laws, ordinances and policies relative to the operation of the CSBT.

It was reported that CSBT concessionaires are paying rent ranging from P15,000 to P110,000 to the Capitol.

The CTO team is armed with a Letter of Authority from City Attorney officer-in-charge Joseph Bernaldez which was earlier rejected by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia who insisted that local government units are tax exempt, calling it “misplaced and improper”.

‘The Province sent a two-page letter in response to the LOA sent by the city to CSBT last week.

They reiterated Capitol said that being a local government unit, it is exempted from the payment of taxes, fees or charges of any kind levied by other LGUs as provided under Section 133 (O) of the Local Government Code.

The CSBT became the newest battleground between the Province and Cebu City when over 100 minibuses plying the southern route were refused entry at the CSBT over new rules imposed.

They sought the assistance of the city government to provide them new bus stops which the latter refused.

Instead, an ordinance allowing minibuses and buses to operate their own terminals was passed by the City Council not limiting them to unload and load only at the CSBT. — Ferliza C. Contratista and Elly Bolonos/MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)