Celso ensures bus terminal Operations normal after fire
Mayor Celso Lobregat and Councilor Nonong Guingona on Tuesday morning view the debris of the Monday night fire incident at the Guiwan Bus Terminal. Lobregat ensured that the operations are back to normal following the tragedy. (JOEY BAUTISTA)
Mayor Celso Lobregat yesterday morning conferred with bus operators displaced by the fire incident at the Guiwan bus terminal Monday night to ensure that operations are back to normal following the tragedy.
For the convenience of the commuters, the bus companies Rural Transit, SSG, Liza May and others decided to stay at the privately-owned Guiwan bus terminal even as clearing operations for the fire debris were ongoing yesterday with the assistance of the City Engineer’s Office on orders of Mayor Lobregat.
Immediately after the fire broke out Monday night, Lobregat together with Councilor Nonong Guingona proceeded to the area to supervise the operations. After the fire has been contained, he met with representatives of the bus companies and the terminal administrator concerning the plans, particularly their trips in and out of Zamboanga City.
It was agreed initially that the buses’ departure will be at their depot at Covarrubias Drive in Divisoria. But things have changed. As of yesterday, bus departure remained at the burnt site with the concurrence of the property owner.
So far, Lobregat said the terminal operations are back to normal but the individual bus company will be setting up its own temporary waiting sheds for the convenience of the passengers. “They will assess the situation once the property is cleared,” he said.
Inasmuch as the city government really wanted to pursue and implement the proposed Integrated Bus Terminal (IBT) project in Divisoria, Lobregat lamented that there had been some cases filed by the two bidding contractors.
Asked whether the owner of the bus terminal in Guiwan would yet reconstruct the structure, Lobregat said it might not be economically feasible on the part of the owner, knowing that the city government is going to construct a bus terminal even as he also cited an ordinance requiring the bus terminal to be in Boalan-Divisoria area.
He also hinted that the city may allow the temporary use of the city-owned Divisoria property, if and when the bus companies would need a temporary location.
Initial investigation showed that the fire broke out due to a leaking gas tank in one of the 23 stalls located inside the bus terminal. The establishments were made of light materials which caused the fire to spread swiftly. Damage to properties is pegged at P700,000 plus. (Vic Larato)