South Bus Terminal gets ready for influx of revelers

CEBU, Philippines - There will be no day off for personnel of the Cebu South Bus Terminal starting Saturday until Sunday, the day of the Fiesta Señor and Sinulog Grand Parade, an official of the terminal announced.

Eddie Dusaban Jr., the terminal’s acting operations manager, said the terminal is bracing for the influx of passengers who will attend the Sinulog activities, as well as those leaving after the festivities.

On Sunday, however, the terminal along N. Bacalso Avenue will be closed from dawn until 10 p.m. because the area near it is where contingents of the Grand Parade assemble. On that day, a temporary terminal will be opened at the South Road Properties. 

“Pagka-10 o’clock sa gabii, pabalikon na og sulod sa terminal ang atong mga buses,” he said.

Some public utility jeepneys will be given special permits by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to ferry commuters from the SRP to the Basilica del Sto. Niño, the drop-off and pick-up points.

Dusaban said a full workforce will be needed this weekend to help man traffic and uphold security inside the terminal.

“Attendance is compulsory. Way day off, way absent. Tanang personnel magtinabangay, magsakripisyo aron ang pagpanakay sa mga pasahero mahimong hapsay,” he told reporters.

Dusaban said they have also requested the Capitol, Philippine National Police, and Special Weapons and Tactics teams for an augmentation force.

SWAT personnel with K9 units will be detailed at the terminal entrance area to check luggage while auxiliary police will be assigned for crowd control.

The terminal is currently manned by 27 blue guards in three shifts and five police officers.

Dusaban said augmentation will start on January 17, as volume of arrivals is expected to increase on this day. It will remain until January 20.

Railings and signs will be put up to sort out passengers according to their destination while tents are set to be erected outside the terminal’s waiting area in case of rain.

The terminal management is requesting the provincial and city governments to lend their Suroy-Suroy and Kaohsiung buses, respectively, in anticipation for bus shortage.

Currently, the terminal has 285 buses to ferry passengers on regular days.

Dusaban said they are not discounting the possibility of shortage of buses with the anticipated influx of passengers. Thousands attend the Sinulog festivities, especially the Holy Procession and Grand Parade every year.

“Kung kana daghan gyod kaayo’g pasahero, may puruhan gyod nga ma-short na pod ta bisan pa og daghan ta’g bus,” she said.

He reminded the public that the terminal will be closed dawn on Sunday until 10 p.m. (FREEMAN)