Thursday, October 30, 2008 [ sunstar.com.ph ]
GUSA Eastbound Terminal's land donor appealed Wednesday to Cagayan de Oro Mayor Constantino Jaraula to return his donated property before he brings the matter to the courts.
Businessman James Sia Giam accused City Hall of detracting from the purpose by which the donation of the property was made.
Giam donated the 4,784-square meter lot to the city in 2002, on the condition that the city would use it as a PUJ terminal for eastbound routes entering the city.
On several occasions, he said City Hall has failed to observe the requirements stipulated in the conditional deed of donation -- from using the donated property as collateral in obtaining loans to allowing other eastbound routes to establish mini-terminals in malls.
Giam cited the mini-terminal for eastbound PUJs established recently at the Limketkai Mall. Earlier, he also complained that the mini-terminal constructed at Ororama Mega Center violated the purpose by which he donated his property.
Mayor Jaraula earlier defended an order allowing PUJs to park in malls to collect passengers, saying this would benefit passengers because they don't have to take two routes to reach their destination.
Giam said he, too, felt the same for the riding public, and would want to have his property reverted to him partly for this reason.
"Naluoy kita sa publiko nga nag-antos sa grabeng pagsaka sa pletehan. Dili angayan nga mo-plete pa sila kaduha aron lamang maka-abot sa ilang destinasyon (I also pity the public who is suffering from fare increases. They don't need to pay twice just to reach their destination)," he told this paper in a phone interview.
He said closing the terminal altogether and letting eastbound PUJs roam around for passengers in malls would be more acceptable, than the city "violating the terms of donation on the regular basis."
This would also spare him, he said, from the numerous complaints he is receiving from other PUJ operators not covered by the mayor's executive order-such as those from Jasaan town.
"These operators thought I can help them, so they come to me often to complain why they are barred from bypassing the Gusa Terminal while others can," he said.
It is unlikely, however, for City Hall to give up the Gusa facility, which cost taxpayers P34 million to build. Only four years in use, the city has yet to recover the construction cost.
Although a bigger eastbound terminal is being eyed in the proposed Agora Commercial Complex, Councilor Reynaldo Advincula earlier said the city can't afford to let the Gusa terminal go.
"We spent millions to construct the Gusa Terminal and we value the donated property. The city has no plans to abandon it," said Councilor Advincula, who heads the local government's market taskforce.
Bank records show that Giam's donated property was used by the Emano administration as collateral in one of its loans at the Land Bank of the Philippines.
Giam said this violated the "good faith" clause provided in the conditional donation. (DVAIII)
