Capitol ‘heeded’ public clamor
Share on facebookShare on myspaceShare on stumbleuponShare on diggShare on emailShare on print| Share on facebook_likeMore | By Flornisa M. Gitgano
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
TALKS are rife that politics was behind the decision of the Provincial Government to lift the P5 terminal fee at the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT).
Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale, when asked if this was true, answered, “Tingali (maybe).”
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She said this was one of the issues in the last election.
Lawyer Hilario Davide III, LP’s gubernatorial candidate in 2010, had said he would scrap the terminal fee if he won. However, he lost to the governor.
But Magpale said she is glad the Capitol listened to the clamor of passengers who live in the south.
“This was the complaint of the people during this year’s Suroy-Suroy Sugbo Southern
Heritage Trail,” she said in Cebuano.
For Gov. Gwen Garcia, the fact is passengers will be grateful they no longer have to pay the terminal fee.
Inspection
“Bisag unsay ibutang nilang rason nga gusto nilang iduhig basta ang kadtong mga nagbayad anang tag-P5 sa una malipay na na ron. (Whatever they say, the important thing is those who used to pay P5 will be happy they will no longer have to),” she
said.
The governor will visit the CSBT today for an inspection and to observe the terminal’s personnel handle the expected onslaught of passengers.
Garcia had announced that the Economic Enterprise Council (EEC) approved the lifting of the passenger’s terminal fee starting tomorrow.
Four legislators had also asked her to scrap the fee as this would benefit the traveling public, especially during holidays like All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
Magpale said the move didn’t need the Provincial Board’s approval.
Not invited
However, Magpale, a member of the EEC, said she doesn’t know when the council approved it since she was not invited to the meeting.
She also doesn’t know if PB Members Peter John Calderon and Wilfredo Caminero, who are also members of the EEC, were invited.
Magpale, Calderon and Caminero left the One Cebu Party of the governor to tie up with the LP.
Magpale is the runningmate of Davide, who is facing the governor’s brother, Rep. Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, 3rd district), in the gubernatorial race next year.
Pablo John’s runningmate is former Danao City vice mayor Ramon “Boboy” Durano IV.
Published in the Sun.Star Cebu newspaper on October 31, 2012.