Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella said he is considering the transfer of the Northbound Terminal from the boundary of Bacolod City and Talisay City, to another location because of alleged violations committed by the operator and complaints from commuters.

The Northbound Terminal, being operated by businessman Crispin Chua, was established by the Leonardia administration in 2011 to create a new growth center in the area and to decongest traffic along Lacson Street and La Salle-B.S. Aquino Drive.

Puentevella said it is time the terminal is transferred because complaints from commuters about its poor standard, as well as violations allegedly committed by the operator.

He said the contract signed by Chua with the past administration of former Mayor and now Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia did not indicate a termination date. So he is considering terminating the contract.

He asked if the terminal operator was able to contribute even just P10 to the city government and compared it to the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corporation which pays its yearly rental to the city.

He said he is looking for a site for the north and south terminals, which, will be located within the city to be operated either by the local government or a private entity.

Meanwhile, Chua said he respects the opinion of the Mayor. In fact, Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. has scheduled a public hearing on the matter on Thursday.

Let the Mayor listen first to the discussion on the matter. But if they think that the situation is quite difficult, he will respect their decision, he said.

Chua said that, under the memorandum of agreement he had entered into with the past administration, the date of operation was stipulated in the first paragraph, including his right to operate the terminal for 25 year or until February 2010.

But at that time, the Sangguniang Panlungsod had sought the legal opinion of the Commission on Elections due to the banning period, and the Comelec allowed the project to proceed, he said.

The Sanggunian then approved to let the operation of the terminal start on September 2011, he added.*CGS

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