Restroom fee imposed by CNBT deemed unlawful, according to a senator's claim

Spicy Take on Senator Tulfo's Bus Terminal Fuss

Senator Raffy Tulfo has ignited quite the kerfuffle, aiming his radar at the Cebu Provincial Government's suspected law-breaking over the Cebu North Bus Terminal (CNBT). The senator is alleging that the terminal is charging passengers for access to a premium restroom without offering a free restroom within the terminal - a potential violation of legal requirements.

On May 3, 2025, Tulfo took to his social media page to share video clips from the April 24 Senate Committee on Public Services hearing. Witnesses from the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) fielded questions regarding Tulfo's findings.

During Tulfo's visit to CNBT on April 4, he pointed out that a premium restroom could be accessed for P10. He expressed concerns about the lack of a free restroom for passengers, a grievance that could potentially be at odds with legal norms.

However, Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has clapped back, accusing Tulfo of poor coordination and a lack of understanding of the terminal's operations. Garcia defended the restroom fees, citing Republic Act (RA) 11311, which permits the operation of a fee-based deluxe sanitary facility as long as a separate, free restroom is available nearby. She cited the restrooms inside SM City Cebu mall, which borders the terminal, as an example.

Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Non-Infrastructure Dioscoro Reyes and LTFRB Executive Director Loumer Bernabe confirmed that an investigation would be initiated following Tulfo's findings. Penalties may be imposed if violations are substantiated.

Tulfo also raised concerns about other issues at the terminal, such as fans being turned off during the day and a lack of functional pushcarts, despite the terminal collecting substantial fees from bus operators.

In response, Garcia defended the paid restroom system and accused Tulfo of disrespecting terminal staff. She clarified that the Mister Loo Philippines (MLP) operates the restrooms at CNBT in partnership with the provincial government, with the P10 restroom and P20 shower fees covering tissue and water. Furthermore, she emphasized that free restrooms are indeed available inside SM City Cebu.

In summary, it seems that the Cebu North Bus Terminal’s fee-based restrooms are legally permissible under RA 11311, as they qualify as premium commercial facilities, and free alternatives are available nearby. As the investigation progresses, stay tuned for further developments in this steamy fest of accusations and counterarguments.

Senator Raffy Tulfo has accused the Cebu Provincial Government of potentially violating legal requirements by charging passengers for premium restrooms at the Cebu North Bus Terminal (CNBT), alleging a lack of free restrooms within the terminal.
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia defended the restroom fees, citing Republic Act (RA) 11311, which allows the operation of a fee-based deluxe sanitary facility if a separate, free restroom is available nearby.
During the Senate Committee on Public Services hearing, witnesses from the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) fielded questions regarding Tulfo's findings, with Assistant Secretary Dioscoro Reyes and LTFRB Executive Director Loumer Bernabe confirming an investigation would be initiated.
In response to Tulfo's concerns about other issues at the terminal, such as fans being turned off during the day and a lack of functional pushcarts, Garcia clarified that these issues were not related to the government but were the responsibility of Mister Loo Philippines (MLP), the operator of the CNBT restrooms in partnership with the provincial government.
The general news landscape saw a lively political discourse over the Cebu North Bus Terminal's restroom fees, with the policy-and-legislation aspect revolving around the interpretation of RA 11311 and the roles and responsibilities of the involved parties.