Rama: Drivers should look for own terminal

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday reminded van-for-hire drivers displaced by the Citilink terminal closure that the temporary terminal outside the old Compania Maritima building won’t be there for long.

He said the area will be used for the Devotee City occupants during the Sinulog next year. The area is also earmarked for the city’s waterfront development project.

The mayor will also meet the drivers again at City Hall this week.

“We have to let them understand because they don’t even have an organization,” Rama told reporters  after inspecting the site  yesterday morning.

READ: Commuters, van-for-hire drivers gripe about closure of Citilink terminal

Rama said he noticed the road where the vans are stationed which is part  of Quezon Boulevard is dusty and should be asphalted.  The area should  be sprinkled with water to control the dust.

Rama also said the drivers should look for a permanent location.

“Ngano ako may mangita (Why should I be the one to look)? The city government’s role is to enforce the law. But right now, we’re helping them. The city should not be the one looking for a place for them,” Rama said.

“I was telling them don’t think about days, weeks. If we can transfer them tomorrow, they transfer tomorrow. They will also have to be a part of the solution,” he said.

Before the Citilink Terminal was operational, drivers used to park along the road or  in gasoline stations.

The Cebu City Traffic Office (CCTO), formerly the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management, is conducting registration of  drivers to ensure that there are no colorum vehicles in the temporary terminal.

Under  guidelines drafted by CCTO and the drivers, the terminal is only open from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.

Some drivers want the city to allow  the  terminal to operate for 24 hours.

CCTO executive director Rey Gealon said he will accompany the drivers in lobbying their requests to Mayor Rama today.