The Cebu Provincial Board has approved a resolution authorizing a usufruct agreement for the Cebu North Bus Terminal (CNBT), clearing the way for long-awaited facility improvements. The resolution, passed during the board's out-of-town regular session on June 22, 2026, in Madridejos, Cebu, allows the Provincial Government to use a 4,500-square-meter portion of SM Prime Holdings Inc.'s property for the terminal while ownership remains with the mall.
Ending Operational Constraints
Prior to the approval, terminal operations faced significant constraints due to the lack of a formal contract. According to a May 24, 2026 report by SunStar, the terminal relied on standby generators without an electrical transformer and spent P5,000 daily to rent portable toilets. The resolution addresses these issues by enabling the installation of a permanent electrical transformer and the construction of permanent commuter facilities.
Usufruct Agreement Details
In a copy of the resolution obtained by SunStar Cebu on June 29, 2026, SM Prime Holdings Inc. expressed willingness to grant the usufruct arrangement free of charge for the 4,500-square-meter area, located in the mall's North Open Parking Area 2. The resolution states: "Under the proposed Usufruct Agreement, ownership shall remain with SM Prime Holdings Inc., while the Province of Cebu shall be granted the right to possess, use, and develop the property exclusively as a temporary location for the Cebu North Bus Terminal, subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein."
Comparison with South Terminal
Unlike the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT), which sits on a province-owned 1.2-hectare property along N. Bacalso Avenue in Cebu City, the CNBT is located within SM City Cebu. The usufruct arrangement allows the province to develop the terminal without purchasing the land, ensuring greater convenience for commuters and tourists heading to northern Cebu towns.
The resolution was authored by Board Member Raymond Joseph Calderon and approved during the out-of-town session. It is expected to jump-start stalled developments and improve services at the terminal.
