COTABATO CITY – With anticipation building over the upcoming opening of Cotabato City’s newest infrastructure project, members of the 18th Sangguniang Panlungsod personally visited the Cotabato City Public Terminal in Barangay Mother Tamontaka on Wednesday, July 31, to assess its operational prospects and potential impact on the city.
During the visit, city councilors conducted an on-site study on how the terminal will be managed and operated. Their key focus: ensuring that equal opportunity is provided for local businesses and transport operators to participate and benefit from the facility.
“This terminal isn’t just a hub for passengers—it’s a potential economic engine for Cotabato City,” a council member remarked during the inspection. “We want to make sure that those who rely on public transportation and small enterprises have fair access to this new space.”
Despite the terminal not yet being open to the public, interest from vendors and transport operators is already high. Local entrepreneurs are eager to secure spaces for selling goods, while several public utility vehicle (PUV) operators have expressed intent to use the terminal as a base of operations.
To ensure seamless operations upon opening, the city government is also coordinating with various national and local agencies. Cleanliness, safety, and traffic flow are top priorities, with specific agencies expected to handle waste management, terminal security, and transport regulation.
Additionally, discussions are underway with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to map out new routes that will connect the terminal to nearby cities and provinces. These new routes are seen as crucial to maximizing the terminal’s role in regional mobility and economic interconnectivity.
The terminal is poised to become a strategic transport and commercial hub. Once operational, it is expected to ease congestion in the city center, boost small businesses, and create new livelihood opportunities for Cotabateños.
As the finishing touches are put in place, the Local Government Unit (LGU) remains committed to a terminal that is not only modern and efficient, but inclusive and beneficial for all. The coming weeks will be crucial as final preparations are made—ensuring that the terminal is ready not just to receive passengers, but to drive the city’s progress forward.