P100M budget pushed for terminals

CEBU, Philippines — The Capitol-run bus terminal administrator is eyeing a ?100-million budget for 2026 to improve the operations and facilities of the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) and Cebu North Bus Terminal (CNBT), a significant increase from the ?62-million allocation this year.

Ahmed Cuizon, the new administrator of both terminals, said the proposal will be taken up in next week’s budget deliberations at the Capitol.

He clarified that the figure is still subject to adjustments depending on recommendations from the Provincial Engineering Office.

“Dili pa ni final kay we agreed on some costly adjustments. So ang proposal is something like close to ?100 million for both CSBT and CNBT,” Cuizon told reporters.

The CSBT is expected to receive a bigger chunk of the budget since it houses more facilities and employs more personnel compared to CNBT, which currently operates under tents with limited amenities. Utilities also account for higher costs at CSBT, where air-conditioned waiting areas are provided, while CNBT only uses electric fans.

The proposed allocation will cover renovations, salaries of employees, maintenance expenses, repairs, improvements, and the introduction of new features at the terminals.

One of the major challenges both facilities continue to face is congestion, with rising numbers of passengers and buses crowding the terminals over the years.

To address this, officials are studying measures such as reorganizing loading and unloading areas, expanding passenger waiting spaces, and revising policies for vans-for-hire and taxis to ensure orderly coexistence.

Another strategy being considered is restricting bus entry into the terminals. Under the plan, buses would only be allowed inside when it is their turn to load or unload, reducing the number of idle vehicles occupying space.

“For now, band-aid solutions lang atong buhaton. But in the long run, the plan is not just to repair parts of the terminal but to expand it,” Cuizon explained.

The Capitol has tasked the Provincial Engineering Office to craft long-term renovation and expansion plans. These will determine how much more funding the two terminals will eventually require beyond the initial ?100-million proposal.

CSBT and CNBT serve as the province’s main transport hubs, connecting passengers to southern and northern Cebu through public utility buses, vans-for-hire, and taxis.

Cuizon, who was previously regional director of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board in Regions 7, 8, 3, and 1, as well as general manager of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport for 15 years, now oversees both terminals under the Capitol’s supervision.

He said he accepted the role out of a sense of public service despite already being retired for two years.

“Pag-elect ni Gov Pam, I was thinking na ang akong spirit of volunteerism ni-prevail nako nga I still have much to offer for the benefit of the Cebuanos,” he said. — (FREEMAN)