Bicol Central Station loses P6M due to ECQ

NAGA CITY --- The Bicol Central Station (BCS), the main bus terminal here, has suffered some P 6 million loss in revenues as it stopped its operation on March 16 due to the declaration by President Rodrigo R. Duterte of the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

Roderick Reforsado, BCS manager, said that the P6 million loss in income of the station covered the period Mar. 16 to Apr. 30 this year only.

He said that the revenue losses are estimated to reach P 8 million up to May 15 as the operation of passenger buses remains suspended even during the general community quarantine (GCQ) period.

The terminal manager said that BCS is losing some P129,000 daily, inclusive of rental payment of stall owners in the terminal. BCS remains closed to buses and passengers since March 16 this year.

He said that despite of BCS temporary closure, he expects the terminal to earn some P10 million by the end of the year. BCS’ annual income for the past years amounted to not less than P30 million.

Reforsado also said that employees of the BCS need not worry about their salaries as they are already allocated in the annual budget of the Naga City government.

Meanwhile, Naga City Mayor Nelson Legacion said that he is certain that the city’s annual budget for 2021 will be reduced. For 2020, the city has a P1.3 billion budget.

As of May 5, the operation of buses, jeepneys, vans, and taxis remains suspended.

The operators of these public utility vehicles need to secure a special permit from the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) before they can operate under the GCQ guidelines, Reforsado said.