Integrated terminal project advancing

The Baguio City Integrated Terminal Project, one of the city’s big ticket projects under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) program, is advancing.

Negotiations between the city government and original proponent Megawide Construction Corporation proved gainful leading to the signing of the certificate of successful dated June 28, 2024 by Mayor Benjamin Magalong, City Administrator Bonifacio Dela Peña on behalf of the city and Jaime Raphael Feliciano representing Megawide.

The project, similar to the Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) transport hub, aims to develop an integrated terminal along Marcos Highway that will cater to provincial buses coming from outside Baguio to serve as passenger transfer terminals to different modes of transportation going into the city.

It was envisioned to help decentralize vehicular traffic in the congested central business district.

Magalong said that pursuant to the PPP guidelines, the project will be presented to the multi-sectoral City Development Council for confirmation and then to the City Council for approval and drawing and adoption of the terms of reference.

Afterwards, the project will be opened for a Swiss Challenge where other private companies will be given the chance to submit better proposals also as part of the PPP guidelines.

The modern transport hub features dedicated loading and unloading bays for provincial and in-city transport, staging area, passenger waiting area with commercial offering and public parking for park-and-ride.

Feliciano said their proposal offers a weather-protected terminal with passenger-friendly amenities that follow the Dept. of Transportation (DOTR)’s integrated terminal standards like 24-hour safety and security systems, person with disability (PWD) inclusive provisions, well-maintained toilets and lactation station, schedule information kiosks, ticket booths and customer service, free internet wi-fi services and baggage amenities.

Their proposal also features the following:

*Consolidated public utility vehicle modes to make transfers more seamless to different destination points inside and outside the city

*Enhanced transport experience seen to lead to a shift toward public transport use; and

*High quality facilities for transportation operators like staging areas for repair and cleaning , drivers’ lounge and canteen and electronic vehicle charging. – Aileen P. Refuerzo