Davide Says PPP Plan for South Bus Terminal Misunderstood

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III says the provincial government’s plan to privatize the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) through the public-private partnership (PPP) scheme may have been misunderstood.

Davide made this statement after the transport sector and stakeholders of the CSBT threatened to withdraw their support for Davide if the Province privatizes the bus terminal operations.

Earlier, Julito Flores, president of the Cebu South Mini Bus Operators Association, asked if the Cebu Capitol was tired of serving the public.

He said, “If you (Capitol officials) will not serve the public anymore, then you are no longer worthy of our support.”

Flores and his group supported Davide during the 2013 Elections.

“I think the PPP was not clearly understood. In PPP, there is an involvement of course of the private sector and public sector, which is the Provincial Government,” Davide said.

He said the PPP, which was a recommended by the Capitol’s Economic Enterprise Council (EEC), is still subject to “more discussions.”

Davide assured that the stakeholders will be consulted, including the bus operators and commuters.

“They will be called to a meeting. Anything that we plan to do with the CSBT, we will involve the stakeholders for consultations. We have a consultative governance here,” said the governor.

Davide said he had considered entering into a PPP because of the problems inside the bus terminal.

“Maybe our challenge to the bus operators is if they can show that they are able to run the facility, then even better. We can talk about it,” he said.

Earlier, Flores said bus operators and stakeholders are ready to organize into a cooperative and manage the CSBT themselves so that the public can continue to have free access to the facility. (PNA) LAP/EB