Are our terminals keeping up with our pace of development?

By Ray Adrian C. Macalalag

The true measure of a city’s livability is often found not in its gleaming skylines, but in the daily commute of its people. In rapidly developing urban centers, public transportation is frequently viewed as a chaotic necessity rather than a preferred choice. To shift this paradigm, we must look beyond simply adding more vehicles to our roads or tweaking fare structures. The catalyst for a genuine public transportation renaissance lies where our journeys begin and end: the terminals. If we intend to solve congestion, we must start by dignifying the everyday commuter.

Historically, transport terminals in the country have been treated as an afterthought — mere patches of asphalt where buses and jeepneys congregate in disorganized friction. We are all too familiar with the grim reality of facilities like the Mohon Terminal, as a few people mentioned in my latest Facebook post. I posted about how Festive Walk Terminal should be the bare minimum for terminals to make public transportation worth the while. Some commenters on my post highlighted their experience in Mohon Terminal: Commuters are forced to endure muddy grounds when it rains, a severe lack of proper seating, and cramped, unhygienic restrooms that are inaccessible. When a terminal strips away a commuter’s dignity, public transportation becomes a daily endurance test rather than a viable alternative to private vehicles. It is no wonder that anyone with the means to do so opts to buy a private car, further clogging our already congested local road networks.

However, a paradigm shift is occurring, visible in the most humane terminal setups. Much like the exemplary terminal in Festive Walk Mall or the one in Robinsons Pavia, it proves that thoughtful infrastructure softens the commute. When commuters can transition effortlessly from an intercity or municipal jeepney to a city transport route without navigating dangerous traffic, the entire transit network becomes exponentially more viable. Engineering these exchanges streamlines connectivity, reducing the physical and mental toll of switching transport modes. It creates a cohesive web of mobility that drives economic activity and encourages more people to willingly embrace shared public transportation options.

Furthermore, a terminal must be a beacon of inclusivity. True mobility means accessibility for all, yet people with disabilities, the elderly, and those carrying heavy loads are too often marginalized by outdated infrastructure. Universal accessibility in terminals is a fundamental human right. Integrating tactile paving, gentle gradients for wheelchair ramps, low-floor boarding zones, and clear visual and auditory signage ensures that the transportation network is equitable. A truly inclusive terminal empowers all citizens to participate fully in the economic and social life of the city without facing structural barriers. We must prioritize designs that ensure the most vulnerable members of our society can navigate these vital transit hubs with independence, safety, and absolute confidence.

Perhaps the most transformative potential of the modern terminal, particularly in space-constrained developing cities like Iloilo City, is its evolution into a proxy third place. Sociologists define the third place as the social surroundings separate from home and the workplace. In areas where open public land is scarce, well-designed terminals fill this void. By integrating food stalls, comfortable seating, and proximity to conveniences like shops and services, terminals stop being spaces of anxious waiting. They seamlessly become vibrant community nodes where people can grab a meal, run an errand, or simply pause safely while connecting with their neighbors and enjoying the surrounding commercial atmosphere.

Reshaping our transport terminals requires a bold shift. As more investments pour in, these humane facilities must become the standard, sprouting everywhere. This transformation is not a luxury; it is a critical necessity for our growing regional economies, especially Western Visayas, the country’s fastest-growing regional economy in 2025. Gone must be the days of muddy, disorganized terminals. By reimagining terminals as intermodal, inclusive spaces, we build an equitable urban future, guaranteeing that commutes and public transportation become the preferred choice for everyone.