Sagada folks push use of P1.9M CHARMP fund for parking lots

By Gina Dizon

SAGADA Mounain Province -- Folks here in this tourist town want the P1.93 million committed for a diversion road from barangays Patay, Poblacion to Dagdag reprogrammed for constructing parking lots instead.

The proposed road within the Mission Compound is part of the private property owned by the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines and administered by the Church of St Mary the Virgin.

In a petition forwarded to the Cordillera Highland  Agricultural Resource Management  Project (CHARMP)  and to the Sagada local government, parishioners of the Church of St Mary the Virgin of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines (ECP) and residents of Dagdag and PoblacionPatay  opposed the diversion road project of the  municipal local government unit here designed to traverse Patay, Poblacion  to Dagdag; and asked  for reprogramming of the P1.93 million  for  the establishment of  parking lots instead.

Allotted by an agricultural institution, CHARMP’s  1.9 million peso allotment  intends to respond to traffic congestion along the main road of the town from Poblacion Patay, Dagdag to Ambasing especially during tourist peak seasons on Christmas, Lent, All Saints Day, Etag Festival, weekends and other major events and celebrations.

A resident noted that parking lots could also qualify for a CHARMP fund and that  parking lots could be also serve as drying pavement for agricultural products.

A  suggestion forwarded  during the  August 1 public consultation said parking lots be constructed instead with realignment  of the  P1.93  CHARMP funds  be reprogrammed for establishment of  parking spaces. Two parking lots were identified at Ken Gedeng, Patay and Tangeb, Dagdag.

The call for the  construction of  parking lots was  strongly voiced out in a public consultation called for this purpose initiated by the local government  unit here August 1 following the letter of winning bidder Benguet  Builders Engr Isabelo Abing that he will start construction May this year.

The public noted said project was bidded out by Sagada LGU December 2013 despite the  absence of a memorandum of agreement between the local government unit of Sagada and the EDNP-CSMV. 

Sagada mayor Eduardo Latawan said he was advised by the Department of Agriculture that bidding can proceed without complete documents.

Residents here noted how such project could proceed where there was no consent secured from the lot owner and with probability that  consent shall not be given.

Episcopal Church Women (ECW) president and former  CSMV  vestry  member Jane Bawing  noted that a pending master development plan of the Mission compound awaits formulation and invited the public to forward their suggestions.

A recent  meeting of the ECW noted that  the Holy Week experience drew out lessons on  improving traffic systems including loading and unloading time provided for, putting up of road signs, and deployment of traffic aides.  

Opposition to the opening of the diversion road noted was during the June 1 congregational  assembly  considering  enticement of  probable squatting due to commercial opportunities, strong threat of  a destroyed  eco-park of the Mission compound, and  anticipated indiscriminate waste disposal along the proposed diversion road. 

Parking lots answered the problem of  traffic congestion during  the 2014 Holy Week  with the identification of parking lots  where cars of tourists and  residents were directed to leave the main road a no-parking site.

The CSMV vestry in their decision disapproved implementation of  the proposed road following  results of  said congregational assembly.