Commercial building owners told: Comply with parking law

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Owners of commercial buildings at the central business district last week committed to provide ample parking spaces to comply with their building permit requirement.

In a dialogue with Mayor Mauricio Domogan initiated by Councilor Elaine Sembrano, building owners agreed to rectify their violation either by restoring their parking spots which were converted and used for other purposes or by designating a parking area outside their buildings but within the property’s 200-meter radius.

City buildings and architecture officer-in-charge Johnny Degay said that in the course of their inspections of edifices, it was discovered that many establishments with approved parking spaces in their building permits have altered the plans and instead converted the spaces intended for parking for other uses.

The mayor said this constitutes violation of Presidential Decree 96 or the National Building Code and city ordinances and as such the city can revoke the building permits and close the establishments.  

He said the city will give the businessmen ample time to comply with the requirement.

The mayor also tasked Degay to investigate building owners who circumvented the parking requirement by applying for building permit for renovation but actually constructed an entirely new edifice.

Apart from the businessmen with approved parking requisites, the city intends to also consult with the other sectors like the schools and others on the same concern.

“This will be a continuing activity as part of the city’s aim to decongest traffic in all areas,” the mayor said.