Alcover raises hygiene issue vs. V-hire terminal

Accessible to southbound passengers and helpful to van-forhire (V-hire) drivers.

This is how 22-year-old Justine Faith Basilla described the V-hire terminal operating in the Cebu City Government-owned property, where the CitiCenter Commercial Complex in Barangay Kamagayan used to stand.

“It’s a win-win situation for both passengers and drivers. It’s also safer for the public because it’s no longer located in an isolated place,” she told SunStar Cebu.

Basilla, who has been taking a v-hire to and from her house in Minglanilla town since she was in college, said she has saved more money since the terminal was transferred in Kamagayan last September.

It was the fourth time that the southbound V-hires were transferred.

They temporarily stayed at the vacant area near the Taboan Public Market after One Citilink Terminal was ordered closed by former mayor Michael Rama in July 2015 due to an alleged tax delinquency and for allegedly operating with an expired business permit.

The V-hires were then moved to the area where the Compaña Maritima building stands, before these were transferred to a va- cant lot near SM Seaside.

Since then, from spending about P150 a day, Basilla is now paying less than half of what she used to spend for transportation.

A V-hire driver, who requested anonymity, said the new terminal is the “friendliest” location they’ve had.

“Here we don’t have to worry about losing income because the place is accessible. Also, our vehicles won’t be getting too wornout because it’s concrete and not too hot,” he said in Cebuano.

But while the V-hire drivers and operators identified the site and proposed it to Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who eventually approved the idea, a councilor wants the terminal closed.

In a privilege speech last Feb. 28, Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr., urged the executive department to shut down the allegedly illegal operations within the 400-square-meter property.

Aside from questioning the presence of a permit to operate, he wants the City to look into the alleged operation of a gas station inside the terminal and whether it has passed safety standards.

Alcover also raised concerns on hygiene and alleged that the absence of restrooms has prompted some people to dump their waste in the canals.

“Who’s collecting the terminal fees? Does this go the City’s coffers? Who is the persona managing the terminal and is he autho- rized by the City?” he asked.

The council referred the issue to the committee on transportation for review.

Sought for comment, terminal supervisor Ignacio Labro denied Alcover’s allegations, saying that since its establishment, restrooms were provided for passengers and drivers.

“In fact, we’re now constructing a urinal extension so that we can cater to more customers. We’re also conducting surveys and the drivers and passengers all agree that this is the best location for a terminal,” he said.

Around 200 V-hires come and go in the terminal, taking a minimum of 20 passengers per trip daily.

As for the collection of fees, revenue collection clerk Adrian Navia said the City Treasurer’s Office has been collecting fees per trip from drivers.