CEBU CITY – From dilapidated buses to non-functioning electric fans, Sen. Raffy Tulfo discovered multiple violations when he recently conducted a surprise inspection at the Cebu North Bus Terminal (CNBT).

Tulfo’s visit, however, didn’t sit well with Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, who chastised the lawmaker for “uninformed comments” on CNBT.

“Ignorance of the law, whether you are an ordinary citizen or you are a sitting senator of this Republic of the Philippines, excuses no one. So it is incumbent upon us, public officials, to be more circumspect in the manner by which we conduct official and personal business,” Garcia said in a media briefing on Thursday, April 10.

GARCIA (FB)

The governor took exception that Tulfo raised some issues even if he had “zero knowledge of the situation.”

Among the violations that Tulfo raised were the absence of fire extinguishers; V-hires had to pay P200 to be able park inside the terminal and pick up passengers from there while black taxis could just pick up the same outside; electric fans and push carts that were non-functional, and passengers paying for  restroom use.

Garcia said the issue of dilapidated buses should be addressed by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) or the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), not the provincial capitol. 

V-hire drivers are not compelled to park inside CNBT, but if they do, they have to pay a certain amount as part of the agreement between CNBT and V-hire operators. 

Garcia said the province has no authority to ban taxi drivers outside the terminal since Cebu City is an independent city from the province, and the capitol has no authority to enforce traffic rules here.

As to the non-functioning electric fans and pushcarts, Garcia said that upon CNBT’s opening in 2020, the capitol provided brand-new ventilation fans and serviceable pushcarts. 

Garcia said some of the fans and pushcarts have become unserviceable due to wear and tear  but purchase and repair requests are already being processed.

The governor added that while it is illegal to collect fees from passengers for the use of regular sanitary facilities in public terminals as a general rule, an exemption is provided under Republic Act No. 11311. 

Section 5 of the law stated that prohibition “shall not apply to separate, well-appointed, or deluxe sanitary facilities that are operated solely for commercial purposes and for the convenience of passengers who require and prefer such facilities within land transport terminals, stations, stops, rest areas, and RORO terminals.”

After his inspection at CNBT, Tulfo went to the LTFRB-7 and asked officials there to conduct regular inspections.

As chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Service, Tulfo warned that he will not hesitate to summon LTFRB-7 officials to an inquiry if the violations are not addressed.

The LTFRB-7 has issued show-cause orders to five bus operators due to various violations that were discovered after Tulfo’s inspection.