Buses are parked at the Cebu South Bus Terminal on October 26, 2023. CDN Digital photo | Morexette Marie B. Erram
CEBU CITY, Philippines—People planning to spend their long weekend in their hometowns in southern Cebu are advised to hit the terminal early if they want to avoid the large influx of passengers expected.
Preparations are underway in Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) as they anticipate to accommodate around 50,000 passengers starting Friday, October 27, who will be going home for Kalag-Kalag and the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.
“Atong expected volume kay 50,000 passengers… Mulungtad pa ni hangtud sa October 31 (in time sa Kalag-Kalag,” said Rodenita Esgana, officer in charge at CSBT.
(We are expected 50,000 passengers… this may be until October 31.)
More buses, ticketing counters
Terminal managers have come up with ways to ensure all passengers will be ferried to their destinations orderly and safely.
“Makig coordinate na ta sa atong mga bus operators and ni commit nasad sila nga once mabantayan namo nga padung na muincrease ang (volume) sa mga pasahero, magpadala sila og dugang nga mga bus,” explained Esgana.
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(We coordinated with bus operators and they committed that once we notice an increase in volume of passengers, they will add more buses.)
Situation at the ticketing office of the Cebu South Bus Terminal days before the long weekend in Cebu due to the barangay and SK Elections and Kalag-Kalag. CDN Digital photo | Morexette Marie B. Erram
Aside from deployment of more buses, the CSBT has also opened three bus-ticketing counters on strategic areas in the terminal.
The additional ticketing counters will help spread the crowd around the terminal, Esgana said.
“Para di magtapok,” she added. (So that it won’t be congested.)
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The original and first ticketing counter will accommodate all bus lines.
CSBT also opened another ticketing beside it, and will be dedicated to mini-buses. The other new ticketing counters will be for van-for-hires (v-hires), and Sunray buses.
The fourth ticketing counter is stationed at the drop-off point for passengers entering the terminal via taxis and private vehicles.
“Para di na sad sila mupila pa ngadto sa ticketing counter sa entrance… Makakuha na sila sa ticket sa drop off point mismo,” Esgana said.
(So they won’t line up in the ticketing counter at the entrance… They can now get tickets at the drop off point.)
Additional tents
Tents have also been set up right beside the guardhouse and on the V-hire terminal to provide additional seats for waiting passengers.
Water dispensers in which passengers can refill their water jugs have also been deployed around the terminal.
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Meanwhile, the CSBT management is aiming to have 50-percent of the newly installed air conditioning units in the terminal operational by Friday.
CSBT is Cebu’s largest bus terminal.
/ bmjo