3 firms eye development of Jadewell parking area

By Jessa Mardy Samidan

BAGUIO CITY – With traffic still heavy in this summer capital, three firms signified their intent to develop a multilevel parking structure on Burnham Park’s Jadewell and Ganza area.

Representatives of the three companies have presented their unsolicited proposals during the Executive-Legislative Meeting of the city government on Sept. 16 as well as to the technical working group of the Burnham Park Master Development Plan on Sept. 17.

Engineer Joselito Lopez, managing officer of All Asia Structures Inc., proposed a Baguio central business district transport terminal and parking facility under Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) scheme worth Php400 million to accommodate at least 550 vehicles in a one-time parking basis.

Lopez proposed a 5-storey building with the first two floors as terminal for public utility vehicles with commercial spaces to accommodate Small-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the city. He said the terminal will have a waiting area inclusive of rest rooms for the riding public’s safety and convenience.

He proposed that the existing U-overpass connecting Maharlika Livelihood Complex, Tiongsan Harrison and Hotel Veniz be connected to a shaded footbridge directly to the terminal. The terminal will also serve as loading and unloading of passengers for the yellow and green trunklines to clear the streets from parked jeepneys.

The second proponent is XY Fuji Elevator Co, LTD., a Chinese company represented by Engr. Ed Cruz who presented a mechanized parking facility with an estimated cost of Php270 million. The firm plans to develop a 3-storey building with four layers of modular facility made of bolts and steels to accommodate at least 668 cars.

Cruz wanted to develop a modern carpark similar to what his company has built in 168 Divisoria, Manila where vehicles are positioned in a metal slab then brought up and down automatically in less than a minute either parking or retrieval. He said the mechanized carpark can be built in a year and can be transferred to another area since this is made of detachable materials.

However, the proposed mechanized carpark will only be for short vehicles such as SUV. The facility will not be able to accommodate jeepneys or trucks since these requires longer and wider spaces.

The third proponent is CW Developments, Inc., an Australian firm represented by its CEO/Director Brian Cole. He proposed a 5-storey building with 600 slots for parking having an estimate cost of Php235 million under Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) scheme.

Aside from the unsolicited proposals, the City Buildings and Architectures Office also presented its plan for a parking facility which will be developed over Igorot Park and the commercial establishments selling lechon chicken. The Igorot Park will be move to the current Jadewell area so it will be proximate to the Melvin Jones football grounds.

Architect Arsenio Glen Martin Rillera said the plan was prepared during the administration of Mayor Mauricio Domogan but was shelved due to public opposition.

In the CBAO plan, the city will construct a 4-storey building with over 800 slots for parking complete with a lobby, rest rooms and commercial spaces to accommodate those selling lechon and food who will be affected in the development.

The building will feature a sky garden and green walls to jive with the park’s greeneries.

                During the presentation of carpark proposals, Councilor Philian Weygan-Allan asked for a time and motion study to be included in the final feasibility study of the proponents.

Councilor Vladimir Cayabas also asked the proponents to include in their final proposal the forecast if traffic generation once a carpark is developed within Burnham park. This was supported by City Administrator Bonifacio Dela Pena who opined that a parking building is a traffic generator since people will intentionally go to the facility to utilize the services.

Meantime, Architect Jodi Alabanza of the Burnham Park TWG said the proponents should consider environmental issues in their studies.

“Any development introduced in Burnham Park should be nature-oriented meaning reduce the protrusion of buildings because we want more greeneries. We want people to walk in the park so if there should be parking, it should be hidden if possible,” Alabanza said.

Councilor Mylen Victoria Yaranon, chairperson of the TWG said Mayor Benjamin Magalong and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) are working closely to fund the development of a parking facility in Burnham Park if only lessen traffic in the CBD by removing street parking and to minimize the volume of vehicles going round the city’s streets due to lack of parking facilities.