CSBT asks city to allow buses to use SRP
The management of Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) has asked the Cebu City government to allow its buses to use the South Road Properties due to the impending closure of the Tabunok flyover to give way to maintenance works.
CSBT manager Joey Herrera immediately contacted representatives of the South Road Properties (SRP) as well as Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) head Attorney Raphael Yap after receiving a letter from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 informing him of the closure.
Herrera said that they asked the city government to let the south-bound buses pass through the SRP from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., starting on March 18 until May 5, which is the duration of the flyover’s maintenance and retrofitting.
Yap said they will check on the request of the CSBT management. He said they still have to first meet with the DPWH-7 and the project contractor.
“We want to look at the scope of the work and the closure of the flyover. But I have no problem with the request. If it is really necessary, then we will recommend it to the mayor for approval,” he told CDN in a phone interview.
He pointed out that the final decision lies with Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
The CCTO also wants to know if during the closure of the flyover, the roads beside and below it can be utilized by vehicles.
As a general rule, Cebu City does not allow buses to pass through the SRP since this is not covered by the routes approved by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
But Yap said the city may allow passage through the SRP depending on the urgency of the request.
According to Herrera, they were also tapping the assistance of Joy Tumulak, CSBT security management head, in ironing out the SRP arrangement with Nagiel Bañacia, head of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Herrera added that he also had yet to talk with the DPWH officials about the impending flyover closure.
“It was just a letter. I haven’t talked yet with the DPWH officials to raise my concerns so that I can inform the bus operators ahead,” Herrera said.
Herrera hoped that the flyover’s closure won’t have much effect on vehicular traffic, especially during the Holy Week particularly on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, when most establishments are closed and works are suspended.
Last week, the DPWH announced the closure of the Tabunok flyover as it will undergo repavement and replacement of the flyover’s expansion joints.
“We already know the traffic congestion in the area even when the Tabunok flyover was operational. The traffic will get worse if buses will pass through the area during the flyover’s closure,” Herrera said.
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