A proposal to increase pay parking slots in some roads in Baguio has been met with cold shoulders at the city council.
Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan asked the Transportation and Traffic Management Division to consider the acceptability of its proposal to impose parking fees in some roads to complement the existing 2,300 parking slots in the city.
TTMD head Juanario Borillo said they are targeting 299 additional parking slots in the different streets around the city, including six barangays.
He said the additional parking slots will generate for the city a monthly income of P971,000 and will employ 50 parking attendants.
The proposed parking slots are Lakandula St., Rajah Soliman St., Lapu-lapu St., Gov. Pack Road near Session Road, Shanum St. near Orchidarium, Quirino Highway fronting Cooyeesan, Magsaysay Ave. across Iglesia ni Cristo, Baguio-Bua-Itogon Road, Outlook Drive fronting Mines View, and Leonard Wood Road.
Borillo said these areas are already being used as parking.
“The only thing that’s lacking is the collection of fees,” he said.
Olowan said the TTMD should consider the social acceptability of its proposal, saying the city does not want to suffer the same fate it suffered with Jadewell before.
“We suffered a lot before because of Jadewell. Now you want the people of Baguio again to pay for parking.”
Olowan added it is inconsiderate for the TTMD to dislocate the Itogon, Benguet-bound jeepneys using Lakandula St. as loading and unloading area then use the same site for pay parking.
The Itogon-bound jeepneys using Lakandula were relocated to Marcoville and Happy Glen Loop. The jeepney associations assign a vehicle to ferry their passengers from their unloading area to the CBD and from CBD to their loading site.
Borillo said the TTMD’s proposal is anchored on the ordinance that regulates the use of some roads at the central business district and the implementing rules and regulations of the National Building Code which allows the use of road-rights of way as pay parking as long as it does not obstruct traffic flow.
Olowan said the ordinance applies only to limited roads. At present, the city collects parking fees only at Ganza at Burnham Park.
Councilor Michael Lawana, meanwhile, asked the TTMD to consult the barangay officials who have passed their ordinances designating pay parking areas within their jurisdiction.
Lawana said the barangays are authorized to regulate the use of their roads based on their observation of the traffic flow and the TTMD proposal might run in conflict with what the barangays already designated as parking areas.
The TTMD proposal was referred to the committee on traffic legislation. – Jane B. Cadalig
July 27, 2024
