LEGAZPI CITY –- This booming city, the regional center of Bicol, is coming up with a P120-million modern bus terminal whose construction will be implemented through a build-operate and transfer (BOT) agreement with a local investor-contractor. Local projects like this that would be implemented through the BOT scheme, requires an approval by the Regional Development Council (RDC) in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act 7718.

RDC chairman, Albay Governor Joey Salceda said Monday, it has been recently approved by the Council. Salceda said the project being pushed by the city government is in line with the region’s thrust of providing adequate, safe and comfortable facilities for land transport services and the RDC finds it viable and beneficial to the public, particularly the transport sector and the passengers as well.

RA 7718 says that projects of local government units (LGUs) costing above P50 million up to P200 million that may be financed, constructed, operated and maintained by the private sector should be submitted to the RDC for confirmation.

The RDC confirmation ensures that projects proposed for BOT are local and regional priorities. It was submitted to the RDC with an approval by the city legislative council two years ago that classified the project with the city’s annual investment plan under its medium term public investment program. Public bidding of the project under a process determined by RA 7718 started during the project identification and preparation stages wherein the implementing agency prepared a feasibility study and necessary documents for its approval. It has also complied with the approval of government guarantees issued by the Department of Finance (DoF).

City Mayor Noel Rosal said over the weekend that the terminal whose preparatory stages of implementation are ongoing would offer modern and convenient facilities for the public transport sector particularly buses that links the city with Metro Manila, the Visayas and Mindanao regions and all the five other cities in the mainland of Bicol.

“We are the center of transportation linked through buses with almost all major destinations in the country and this new terminal will become the merging point among commuters from and all those points,” Rosal said.
The terminal located within a two hectare satellite business hub of the city would offer more spaces for eateries, recreation center, souvenir shops and other facilities necessary to bring about convenience and safety to the public, he said.

Source: Positive News Media