Bus operators optimistic Magpale will grant lower CBST parking fee

CEBU, Philippines - Bus operators in Cebu are optimistic that the provincial government will grant their request to reduce the parking fee at the Cebu South Bus Terminal.

Julito Flores, president of the Cebu South Mini-Bus Operators Association, expressed his optimism after meeting with Acting Governor Agnes Magpale last Friday.

“Naa nay figure kung pila ang reduction pero nagtoo man si Magpale nga ang bus operators ra ang nangayo og reduction walay labot ang mini-bus, so iyaha pang i-meet ang Economic Enterprise Council next week about it,” Flores said.

Flores however said they do not know the amount yet.

The bus and mini bus operators earlier complained of the increase in the parking fee at the terminal. They described the parking fee as “expensive”.

Suspended Governor Gwendolyn Garcia earlier imposed a 100-percent increase in the parking fee at the terminal. The increase in the parking fee was implemented effective October 31 to offset the lost income of the terminal because of the scrapping of the P5 terminal fee for the passenger.

At present the regular bus and mini bus parking is P200 per entry from P100 before the P5 terminal fee for passenger was scrapped. Taxi cab is now collected P20 per entry from P10.

Mini buses enter the terminal three times everyday on the average while regular buses at least twice a day.

Bus and mini-bus operators have already asked Garcia before she was served with suspension order by the Department of Interior and Local Government to reduce the parking fee to P150 for regular bus and P140 for mini bus.

The operators submitted a request to Garcia last November but was denied. — (FREEMAN)