Coop worried over change of NBT mgt

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Bus Operators Multi-purpose Cooperative, Inc. (CPBOMCI) is hoping that a change of management at the North Bus Terminal will not happen overnight otherwise many of its employees will lose their jobs.

CPBOMCI Chairman and Manager Zosimo D. Jumao-as Jr. said their stand on the proposal of Capitol to take over the management of terminal will be subservient to the decision of the city government with whom they entered a contract to operate and maintain the terminal for 25 years.

The Cebu City government is leasing the property from the Mandaue City government under a 25-year agreement. The contract is yet to expire on 2020.

“But if ma-quash na ang contract between the city government and Mandaue City, our contract with the city also becomes moot and academic. Wala na mi mabuhat ana, but it will not have to be soon,” Jumao-as said.

He said they would need at least 30 days to prepare themselves and would appreciate if the change of management will be implemented only at the end of the fiscal year for them to meet their obligations to their employees.

Jumao-as said the cooperative would need at least P4 million to compensate the employees who will lose their jobs.

The CPBOMCI has over 20 members working at the NBT.

The terminal earns a net income of about P12 million a year. Its gross monthly income is close to P2 million a month.

The P2 million annual rental for the property paid to Mandaue City is sourced from the terminal’s income. The rest is equally divided between the cooperative and the city government.

The NBT Management Board was supposed to meet with the Governor yesterday but the meeting was postponed after representatives from Mandaue City failed to attend.

The Mandaue City government is required to take part in the negotiation because it owns the property where the terminal stands.

In a separate development, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said the proposed bridge from Cebu City to Cordova might be included in the agenda for endorsement during the next Regional Development Council meet.

Rama said he met with Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy last week during which the latter asked his support for the proposed project. Rama said he will bring the matter up to the RDC for endorsement to the National Government for funding of the feasibility study. – (FREEMAN)