Banaue parking building to push through; court denies TRO

BANAUE, Ifugao — The planned six-storey parking building, already on its construction stage here, will push through after a petition by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) to abort the project has been junked by the court.

Mayor Jerry Dalipog confirmed Tuesday the P54-million parking building project is a “go” and will not affect or obstruct the view of the world-famous Banaue Rice Terrices.

Dalipog even asked NCCA officials to visit the project site and see for themselves if it will destroy or hamper the heritage site as claimed by some to be a “photo bomber.”

“I want the NCCA to know that the project is not on the heritage sites of Banaue. It is four kilometers away from the viewpoint of the rice terraces. It is also very far from Batad and Bangaan rice terraces, the two barangays declared as UNESCO sites,” Dalipog said.

The parking building is envisioned to ease traffic congestion in the commercial area and will benefit locals, businessmen and tourists.

The parking building can accommodate 110 light vehicles and is scheduled to be finished in eight months.

However, the petition filed for a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the local government’s project is expected to push back the expected date of its completion.