Issues hound Baguio Ganza multi-level parking project

infraBy Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY -- The local government has to decide whether or not to push through the construction of a proposed 5-storey multi-level parking structure that will help address the city’s insufficient parking spaces and provide some public utility jeepney parking terminals with safer parking spaces.

City Administrator Bonifacio dela Peña presented to city officials issues confronting the construction of the proposed multi-level parking structure that could seriously delay or vent stop the proposed project.

He claimed that when the technical people plotted the proposed multi-level parking structure, more than half of the area will be occupied by the ramps that will be erected leading to the different levels of the proposed parking structure thereby defeating the purpose of having the structure.

However, the city administrator stated that the proposed multi-level parking structure will be useful if the areas occupied by the Igorot Park and the lechon manok businesses will be included in the area of the structure that will result to the eventual abolition of a portion of Perfecto St. considering that the said road is not part of the earlier master plan of the whole Burnham Park.

According to him, the proposed increase in the area that will be covered by the proposed multi-level parking structure will also translate to the increase in the number of parking spaces that will be made available from the previous 550 slots to over 700 slots.

Dela Peña proposed that the Igorot Park will be transferred to a still undisclosed area while the lechon manok stalls could be accommodated in the commercial area that will be designated inside the proposed multi-level parking structure considering that the road level will be designated as a commercial center where the winning prominent will use the same to recover part of the investment that was infused by the proponent for the realization of the city’s major project.

He urged city officials to look into the prevailing issues confronting the proposed project and ascertain whether or not there is a need for the local government to pursue the put up of the multi-level parking structure or look for other feasible areas where to construct the parking building that will cater to the increasing parking needs of the increasing volume of vehicles plying the city’s streets daily.

One of the strategies embraced by the local government for the realization of its core agenda on aggressive traffic management is for the put up of multi-level parking structures that will cater to the parking requirements of motorists going in and out of the city.

Aside from the Ganza parking area, the city is eying the put up of separate multi-level parking structures in the proposed creative center area at the old city auditorium area and a portion of the Baguio Athletic Bowl to cater to the parking requirements of people visiting one of the premier tourist destinations right at the earth of the city.

Earlier, three companies have initially submitted their unsolicited proposals to the local government for the construction of a multi-level parking structure within the Ganza parking area that might expand up to the Igorot Garden and the lechon manok stalls.