BAGUIO CITY – Travelers to and from this city will no longer have to worry about getting drenched in rain while waiting to get a ride with the upcoming Baguio City Integrated Terminal (BCIT) seen to ease their commuting experience.

Edgar Saavedra, chairperson and chief executive officer of Megawide Construction Corp., the developer of the P1.2-billion project, assured that they will build a "world-class" terminal.

"Magbibigay ito ng comfort sa pasahero at hindi na lahat ng buses papasok sa city, at makakabawas sa traffic (We are committed to deliver the world-class terminal that will give comfort to passengers and will help reduce traffic as buses do not have to enter the city proper)," he said in a press briefing Wednesday.

Saavedra said Megaworld was also the developer of the Mactan Cebu International Airport, as well as the Clark International Airport, which are among the country's top-caliber airports.

Their company also developed and manages the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), which has addressed the passenger problems of waiting on the road for transportation.

The BCIT, to be located about four kilometers from the town proper, will bring in all major bus companies operating in Baguio, interregional and interprovince utility vehicles, and mini-vans in one place.

For public convenience, the BCIT will also house several food chains and eateries for the consumers to have choices, various service providers, as well as a convenient waiting area equipped with public Wi-Fi connection.

It will also have provisions or areas where passengers waiting for a longer time can stay.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong, meanwhile, assured that there will also be a shuttle service that will provide ease in transporting passengers and their baggage from the different drop-off and pick-up points to the terminal.

“It will not be free, but there will be a shuttle service, and it will be affordable,” he said in the same press conference.

Aside from being seen as a solution to the traffic congestion at the central business district (CBD), the city government will also earn and obtain revenues from the BCIT's operation.

Lawyer Jaime Raphael Feliciano, Megawide chief business development officer, said the lease contract with the city government will be in effect for 40 years.

He said the city will get a P1.5-million annual fixed rental fee for 40 years and a share in the income from the operation, which is from five to 20 percent depending on the income or an estimated at P1.8 billion for the whole contract duration.

This is aside from the real property tax and other business permits payable to the city that is estimated at P2 billion.

On the sidelines of the press conference, Feliciano said that if computed based on the PITX’s operation, which has a foot traffic of 170,000 daily, the city will get an average of P5 billion for the contract duration.

The BCIT, however, expects to have an average of 15,000 to 20,000 daily foot traffic.

Feliciano said the contract is non-extendible and will be turned over to the city government after the expiration of the contract “lock, stock, and barrel” or in its entirety without fees.

The terminal's construction is set to start in the second quarter of this year and will be completed in two years. (PNA)