If you’ve been to the Cebu South Bus Terminal prior to September 2009, and haven’t been back there since, you’d be amazed at how greatly the CSBT has changed.

The CSBT accommodates buses bound for Argao, Badian, Boljoon, Carcar, Dalaguete, Dumanjug, Moalboal, Oslob, Pinamungahan, San Fernando, Sibonga, and Toledo, among others.

image source: bus terminal

Many Cebuanos who ply the South-bound routes can recall how the old terminal was a major hassle and how waiting there for hours could result to hot head-banging. Aside from the place being very hot, the terminal’s toilet reeked of urine and other unpleasant smells despite having a fee, which was said to account for maintenance. The old CSBT also had no waiting areas for passengers, a necessity for every terminal.

Following Capitol-funded renovations, the new terminal boasts of praiseworthy improvements.  The new CSBT now has these facilities to boast of:

• one ticketing counter for all destinations
• dedicated boarding gates for different destinations
• a paging system that announces arrivals and departures
• flat screen televisions in air-conditioned waiting areas
• clean and sanitary restrooms
• several food outlets and snack bars
• souvenir shops

image source: new ticketing system

These major changes to the terminal also resulted to a variety of changes to the system. One of which is the controversial PHP 5.00 terminal fee collected upon entry. For every bus and mini-bus, an entrance fee of PHP 100.00 will be charged. A PHP 2.00 fee is also collected for the use of the comfort rooms.

To enter the air-conditioned waiting area, passengers must drop coins amounting to PHP 5.00 at the turnstile to get an official receipt, which will serve as their boarding pass. Stricter rules are also being imposed by the Capitol, including regulating the presence of dispatchers and demolishing illegally erected stalls in the terminal. The new system allows the local government to monitor overloading. These improvements are also able to attract new businesses.

image source: waiting lounge

Many say that getting inside the new CSBT is close to being inside an airport. For most passengers, it’s ease, convenience and security. The Cebu Provincial Government has anticipated additional revenue of PHP 50 million by 2010, which will come from stall rentals and terminal fees.

So if you’re travelling to the Southern part of Cebu, you no longer have to worry much about taking the bus because it’s been taken care of already. Enjoy Cebu!

  image source: CSBT map