Rules prepared for Ganza parking area

By Jho Arranz

BAGUIO CITY --  Mayor Mauricio Domogan recently formed  technical working group (TWG)  to prepare terms of reference (TOR) for operation of Ganza parking area operated by the city government here through private-public partnership (PPP).

To address lack of parking spaces within the central business district (CBD) especially during summer season where tourists are expected to visit the summer capital of the Philippines, the City Environment and Parks Management Office reopened the pay parking facility April 2 following memorandum issued by the mayor.

The facility was formerly operated by the Jadewell Parking Systems Corporation as pay parking space for 12 years. However, in 2006, the contract between the city government and the Jadewell Parking Systems Corporation was rescinded because of opposition of the public regarding the parking scheme that reached the Supreme Court to resolve the issue. 

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the city government in relation to the cases that were filed but it failed to spell out whether or not Jadewell parking Systems corporation, the former operator of the city’s off-street and on-street pay parking, will be given reasonable period to recover its losses.

Since parking is a continuing urgent need in the city and since there is no terms of reference as basis of the operator in paying the city government, Domogan formed the TWG to immediately craft the required TOR in order to bit out the operation of the area for parking purposes.

City engineer Leo Bernardez, Jr. will chair the said TWG with members councilor Elmer Datuin, SangguniangPanlungsod Committee on tourism and special events, councilor Joel Alangsab, SP Committee on public utilities, city budger officer Leticia Clemente, city treasurer Alicia Onoza, city accountant Antonio Tabin, city planning and development officer Evelyn Cayat, city adminstrator Carlos Canilao, city assessor Nilda Navarro, city general services officer Romeo Concio and city environment and parks management officer Cordelia Lacsamana.

The TWG is mandated to submit to the mayor the proposed TOR within 30 days upon receipt of the order.

At present, the parking facility is being manned by the CEPMO personnel in coordination with the treasury office for the collection of parking fees pursuant to existing rules and regulations.  

Said facility is collecting P35.00 for the first two hours of parking and P10.00 for every succeeding hour.  The collected parking fees will be deposited to the trust fund of the city to be used in the operation and maintenance of Burnham Park.