ZAMBOANGA CITY (PIA) – The Zamboanga City Integrated Bus Terminal (IBT) has expanded its routes to include destinations in Visayas and Luzon, significantly improving transportation efficiency for travelers departing from Zamboanga City. Simultaneously, the terminal has prioritized security enhancements and improved conditions for its night market vendors.
During the February 26 episode of “Kapihan na Zamboanga,” Rafael Derick Evangelista III, head of the Zamboanga City IBT, highlighted the terminal’s achievements from the previous year. He detailed the revenue generated, passenger volume, and buses accommodated. Evangelista also emphasized improvements in security and communication through upgrades to the command center and paging/address systems.
“We upgraded our command center or our CCTV room. We added 32 new cameras to the existing 56, bringing our total to 88 cameras covering all areas of the IBT,” Evangelista stated, highlighting the enhanced security measures.
“The IBT now serves routes extending to Visayas and Luzon, in addition to our established routes to Pagadian, Cagayan de Oro, and Dipolog, among others. We are also in the process of finalizing documentation to open a new Zamboanga-Davao route via Cotabato,” he added.
Evangelista also emphasized the IBT’s support for its night market tenants, recognizing their contribution to the terminal’s revenue.
“A significant portion of our revenue comes from the night market. In over two years, the IBT’s night market has generated 8 million pesos in rent and parking fees. We maintain strict standards for cleanliness in the night market. Our policy requires tenants to leave their spaces completely clean after each night’s operations,” he explained.
He further elaborated on the measures implemented to ensure cleanliness.
“If stall owners fail to clean their areas, they are penalized the following day. We issue citations to encourage a culture change. We must maintain cleanliness for the enjoyment of everyone,” he said.
(Photo credits: Zamboanga City Integrated Bus Terminal)
The Zamboanga City IBT plans further improvements, including installing solar panels, building renovations, and additional security enhancements, to provide travelers with an even more accommodating environment. A key initiative is the implementation of turnstile gates and the use of cash cards for entry.
“Currently, passengers pay the terminal fee directly. While this is currently being monitored, we plan to implement a system where the City Treasurer’s Office issues cash cards upon ticket purchase. This will allow us to track passenger numbers accurately,” Evangelista concluded. (EDT/JFT/PIA9-Zamboanga City)
