After years of silence, a massive transport hub in San Francisco town is finally stirring to life. Residents have watched the facility age without serving its purpose, even as traffic congestion worsened in the poblacion. February is now shaping up to be a turning point for this Agusan del Sur municipality.
Designed to Decongest the Town
The Integrated Bus Terminal and Public Market Complex sits on a five-hectare site along the Diversion Road in Barangay Hubang. It was envisioned to pull buses and vendors away from the crowded town center and streamline public transport. Local officials say its activation will ease daily traffic and improve commuter flow.
New Routes, New Rules
Once opened, the terminal will introduce a new bus routing scheme for key regional routes. Buses from Davao City will enter via the diversion road in Sitio Taglikid, Barangay Bayugan 2, while those from Butuan City will use the Hubang intersection. Trips coming from Surigao del Sur will pass through the Alegria diversion road and exit near San Francisco Doctors Hospital before heading to the terminal.
Why It Stayed Closed
The complex was completed nearly six years ago but remained unused due to unresolved operational issues. Problems involving water and power connections, along with readiness concerns, delayed its opening. These setbacks turned a flagship project into a symbol of stalled development.
The Price of Waiting
The project was financed through a P600 million loan from the Development Bank of the Philippines during a previous administration. Despite being idle, the municipality has been paying around P69 million annually for principal and interest. The payments came from a significant portion of the town’s 20 percent development fund.
Revenue at Last
Mayor Grace Carmel Paredes-Bravo said the phased opening will finally allow the town to earn from transport operators and market vendors. Income from terminal fees and stall rentals is expected to help ease the loan burden. Officials are now finalizing tariffs, rental rates, and operating policies.
What Comes Next
The bus terminal will open first, with the public market scheduled to follow in the coming months. Additional funding is being considered to fully address remaining utility concerns. For San Francisco, the long-delayed complex is now poised to deliver the benefits it promised years ago.
