Closure of three bus terminals in city imminent
NO VICTORY LINER-SOLID NORTH COMPROMISE
THE possibility of closing the bus terminals of three bus lines located near the Perez Boulevard and Mayombo intersection is becoming imminent because there is no indication that a compromise agreement has been reached between Victory Liner and Solid North bus lines over the use of the access road behind their terminals.
This became apparent after the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) reset its hearing to August 28 purposely to validate if the initial understanding reached over the sharing of the access road and allow for the continued operation of the two bus companies including Five Star, a sister company of Victory Liner.
The existing ordinance in the city prohibits the operation of a bus terminal within 100 of a street intersection.
Presently, Solid North buses continue to enter and exit on the Perez Boulevard because Victory Liner still refuses to allow the former to use the access road behind its terminal, an indication that no agreement has been reached.
The city council attempted to mediate and compel the bus companies to reach an agreement to end the feud between the two bus companies and enable all bus companies in the area to use the access road behind as ingress and egress points.
The SP committees on Transportation as well as Laws, Ordinances and Judiciary enjoined the two bus companies in late 2017 through their legal counsels to talk and reach an agreement over the matter or else the legislative body shall order all terminals in the area, all in violation of the ordinance.
The closure of the area will not only affect the Five Star bus line but the convenience of commuters in the city.
Councilor Alvin Coquia, chairman of the committee on Transportation, clarified that in case there is a meeting of the minds between officials of Victory Liner and Solid North, such an arrangement will still be only temporary until a grand terminal on Jose de Venecia Expressway becomes operational.
“We have yet to hear about their agreement,” said Councilor Jose Netu Tamayo, chairman of the committee on Laws, Ordinances and judiciary, in a phone interview.
The access road, originally owned by the Lioanag family, was donated by the latter to the Dagupan Chinese Chamber of Commerce, for access to the Chinese Cemetery. But the road was eventually sold to Victory Liner when then Mayor Benjamin Lim was president of the organization. (Leonardo Micua)
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