Koronadal City dads OK Purchase of Lot for Terminal Complex

Members of the city council here yesterday approved the resolution authorizing Mayor Peter B. Miguel to buy the lot where the city’s public terminal complex will be built on.

Hon. Mayor Peter B. Miguel

Through a nominal voting where each member had to explain his or her view on the issue, eight members of the Sangguniang Panglungsod approved the resolution for the city’s purchase of the 5.9-hectare property of Abella family at Purok Yellow Bell, Pinto Subdivision, Barangay Zone 3.

The lot would cost the city government P40 million.

Councilor Pagunsan, who authored the resolution said, it is time that the city would build its own public transport terminal.“Koronadal City has lost so much potential income because it does not have its own public transport terminal," Pagunsan said.

He added plans have been laid out to turn the terminal complex into an income generating project of the city.

Besides the terminal fees, stalls and other facilities within the complex will also be rented out establishments. Once built and completed this shall be the city’s first public transport terminal.

“Residents of Koronadal City have long waited for a public transport terminal,” Mayor Miguel said in response to the council’s approval to his request for an authority to purchase.

He said the facility should be able to address the rising needs of commuters in the city, being the administrative seat of Soccsksargen Region or Region 12 and the capital of South Cotabato.The city government plans the terminal complex to be spacious, comfortable and accessible.

The Abella property was selected from the initial ten properties considered by the “Taskforce Terminal” assigned to scout for appropriate locations for the public terminal based on the following criteria: viability, efficiency, road user safety, people-friendliness, and environmental concerns.

The lot selection committee composed of multi-sectoral members representing the local government departments, NGAs, NGOs, CSOs and the private transport group was guided by professional consultants from UP-School of Urban Planning (UP-SURP) and UP-National Center for Transportation Studies (UP-NCTS) in determining the area fit for this public facility.

In an earlier interview with local reporters, acting city treasurer Marloun Gumbao, said the lot was originally offered for sale at P880 per square meter but the prize was lowered to P672 per square meter after a series of negotiations.

The location conforms to the DOTC guidelines on distance from the superhighway and within the 2,000 radius range from the urban center, he added.

In making sure objectivity in the selection of the lot, Gumbao explained, the appraisal committee employed sales comparison, opinion survey and cost analysis approaches to make sure that the selection of the lot would be objective.

Mayor Miguel expects the construction of Koronadal City’s public transport terminal complex within the year. (DEDoguiles/PIA 12)