Cebu City V-hires to N. terminal bid opposed

Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes .(PIO PHOTO)

Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes yesterday said he opposed a proposal to accommodate 40 vans-for-hire plying the Balamban route at the Cebu North Bus Terminal in Mandaue City.

He said the proposal of Cebu city traffic officials would just add to traffic volume in Mandaue.

He pointed out that Mandaue City serves as the only  passage of vehicles going to the north and south of Cebu.

Nearly  336,000 vehicles  pass through Mandaue City in a day based on a 2010 traffic count.

Cortes said the Cebu City government should consult them first before pursuing the plan.

“Dili si Mike ang mo-decide for this, he has to consult Mandaue first…Ang decision would be from the traffic board sa Mandaue,” Cortes said.

(It will not be Mayor Michael Rama who is going to decide for this but he has to consult Mandaue first. The decision should be from the traffic board of Mandaue.)

But CCTO chief Rey Gealon said he already sent a formal request letter dated August 4 to CNBT general manager Zosimo Jumao-as Jr.

Gealon  said Jumao-as told him that he is willing to accommodate the V-hires but not all 40 of them because of the lack of space at the North Bus Terminal.

The V-hires have their temporary terminal near the Compania Maritima building in Cebu City.

They are part of the 300 V-hires affected by Cebu City’s closure of the One Citilink Terminal.

Last July 28, the Cebu City government closed the One Citylink terminal because of the lack of a city permit.