CSBT braces for throng of passengers for Lent

CEBU, Philippines — At least 40,000 passengers are expected to troop to the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) starting Holy Wednesday as the faithful observe the Lenten season.

This is the estimated number of passengers the management of the terminal is expecting especially if government offices would have a half day work to give ample time for the employees to go home and spend the holy week in their respective towns and provinces.

With this, the CSBT has already started its preparation for the influx of passengers.

They have asked the local government of Cebu City for two Kaohsiung buses to help carry passengers in case the public buses would not be enough during those days.

CSBT Manager Joey Herrera said the two Kaohsiung buses will only carry "priority passengers" such as senior citizen, pregnant women, person with disabilities and those who have babies with them.

Herrera clarified also that one priority passenger is allowed to have one regular passenger with him at the "priority area" of the terminal.

Aside from the two buses, the CSBT will also ask for portalets and additional tents inside the terminal from the Cebu City government. This is also for passengers who will wait for their turn to ride their bus.

In terms of security, the management of the terminal will also ask the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) for at least 20 police personnel to augment the 25 blue guards inside the terminal from Holy Wednesday to Easter Sunday.

Herrera said they will also ask for additional security from the Cebu City Police to secure the premises outside the terminal.

The manager of the CSBT also appealed to the passengers to coordinate with them and to have patience as it is expected that there will be instances that buses will arrive late due to heavy traffic.

"Ang mga pasahero nuon, mag-init ra na ilang ulo kung wala sila ma-inform sa sitwasyon sa terminal, mao nga kinahanglan sila pasabton nga usahay wala dayon bus tungod kay traffic" Herrera said.

He assured that there will be enough buses that will carry all the passengers who will go to their respective towns.

The passenger area at the back portion of the terminal is now being prepared with tents and signs on where the passengers will go.

Last week, Herrera said, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) have started their inspection on the "road worthiness" of the buses inside the terminal.

He said that after the meeting with the bus operators, they have asked the two transportation agencies for early inspection so that they'll be able to fix whatever glitches or technical errors on the bus before it will be used to carry the passengers. — GAN (FREEMAN)