Restroom fee imposed by CNBT deemed unlawful, claims senator
Rewritten Article:
Senator Raffy Tulfo has thrown a possible spanner in the works for the Cebu Provincial Government, questioning if they're skirting the law by charging passengers for premium restroom use at the Cebu North Bus Terminal (CNBT), without offering a free restroom on the premises.
On May 3, 2025, Tulfo slammed the issue on his social media pages, sharing clips from the April 24 Senate Committee on Public Services hearing. Officials from the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) provided their input.
Tulfo's criticism stemmed from his April 4 visit to CNBT, during which he spotted problems with the terminal, including the P10 admission fee for the premium restroom. He voiced concerns over the lack of a free restroom for passengers, arguing this may breach legal requirements.
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Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia shot back at Tulfo for the unannounced inspection and accusations, demanding coordination and a better understanding of the terminal's operations. She defended the fees, citing Republic Act (RA) 11311, which allows the operation of a fee-based deluxe sanitary facility, as long as a separate, off-site free restroom is accessible. Garcia pointed to restrooms within SM City Cebu mall as a viable alternative.
During the hearing, Tulfo admitted that RA 11311 allows for premium restrooms, but only with an on-site free restroom option. He saw potential non-compliance and questioned CNBT's adherence to the law. Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Non-Infrastructure Dioscoro Reyes agreed, citing Section 7 of the law, imposing P5,000 daily fines for operator violations.
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LTFRB Executive Director Loumer Bernabe confirmed the agency would issue a show-cause order in response to Tulfo's claims, threatening penalties if the violations were validated.
Tulfo also addressed other terminal issues, including switched-off wall fans and high fees for bus operators, yet inadequate basic facilities like functional pushcarts. To his credit, Garcia addressed the first issue following Tulfo's visit. Moreover, she maintained that free restrooms were nearby within SM City Cebu, where CNBT resides rent-free under a usufruct agreement.
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In a follow-up April 16 inspection, Garcia defended the paid restroom system, lambasting Tulfo for his disregard towards terminal staff. She explained that the Mister Loo Philippines (MLP) operated the CNBT restrooms in partnership with the provincial government, with the P10 and P20 fees covering toiletries and water.
Despite the premium restrooms' legal operation, the ongoing dispute centers on the provision of free, on-premise restrooms as required by law. While CNBT appears to comply with the law by offering off-site free alternatives, the exact interpretation and enforcement of the law remain under debate.
Insights:- The CNBT's premium restrooms operate under a partnership with Mister Loo Philippines, with users paying P10 per visit to cover costs.- Although free alternatives are available nearby, the ongoing debate revolves around the legality of charging for access to a premium toilet when a free option should be available on-site according to the law.- RA 11311 outlines fines for non-compliance by terminal operators.- The exact interpretation and enforcement of the law regarding premium restrooms and on-site free alternatives are under scrutiny.
- Senator Raffy Tulfo raised questions about the Cebu Provincial Government's adherence to the law, specifically in relation to charging for premium restroom use at the Cebu North Bus Terminal (CNBT), while not offering a free restroom on the premises.
- The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has announced intentions to issue a show-cause order in response to Tulfo's claims about the CNBT, potentially imposing penalties if the allegations of non-compliance are verified.
- The ongoing dispute centers on whether the CNBT, under the partnership with Mister Loo Philippines, is lawfully allowed to charge for access to premium restrooms, when it is required by law to provide a free, on-site restroom option.
