Baguio City council probes collection of parking fees

Free parking for elderly pushed 

By Jordan G. Habbiling

BAGUIO CITY -- The City Council probed the release of shares of barangays from collected fines and fees pursuant to implementation of the anti-obstruction road operation (ARO) and tax ordinance 2011-01.

City Accountant Antonio Tabin and City Treasurer Alexander Cabarrubias were joined by Police Maj. Oliver Panabang of the Traffic Enforcement Unit- Baguio City Police Office during the City Council’s session on Nov. 18 to shed light on the matter.

The ARO was enacted through an administrative order signed by then Mayor Mauricio Domogan in 2016 administrative order 116, series of 2016 which stipulated a 70-30 scheme where 70% of collected fines from the ARO violations will be remitted to the concerned barangays while the 30% will accrue to the city government.

Tabin said during the forum that the barangay’s share is meant to be used only for peace and order programs in the barangays.

Cabarrubias disclosed in 2018, names of the barangays were not indicated on the official receipts of paid fines, thus they were unable to keep track of each barangay’s accurate share.

Tabin and Panabang said barangay officials were advised to coordinate with the TEU-BCPO at Compact 4 (Precinct 3 of BCPO Station 7) to obtain their barangays’ ARO records which will guide the City Accounting Office in determining their shares.

Records of the City Accounting Office said only seven barangays were able to claim their 2018 share.

Cabarrubias and Tabin said shares of each barangay are now given more efficiently for this year’s collection.  

Tax Ordinance 2011-01 (Amending section 33, parking fees of tax ordinance 2000-001) requires parking fees for each vehicle parked in parking lots that are “maintained/operated by the City Government of Baguio.”

Several councilors said under the same ordinance, overnight parking along streets, on sidewalks, in public places, or on city and national roads maintained by the city is “indirectly allowed as it provides for overnight parking fees.”

It was determined that there is supposed to be a 50-50 scheme used for the collection of parking fees where the barangay is entitled a 50% share while  the other 50% goes to the City Government of Baguio. Two councilors confirmed that parking fees are collected in certain barangays. Cabarrubias, however, claimed that the ordinance is “not being implemented” as the City Accounting Office is not involved in the collection of parking fees.

Council members also raised concern on the contradiction between the ARO and Tax Ordinance 2011-01 as one “prohibits” overnight parking on the aforementioned places while the other “indirectly allows” it through the provision of overnight parking fees.           

Councilor referred the matter to the committee on public utilities, transportation, and traffic legislation in coordination with the committee on laws, human rights and justice for further study.

Meanwhile, Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda sought exemption of senior citizens from paying parking fees.

Once approved, the ordinance will require all business establishments to grant a free parking privilege to all senior citizens of the city.

Taking cue from a legislative tracking and analysis report conducted by the Research Division of the Sangguniang Panlungsod where several findings, comments, and recommendations were given for consideration, Tabanda has proposed the amendment of Ordinance 08-2013 (requiring the grant to senior citizens of at least 20% discount in parking fees).

Under the amendatory ordinance, all business establishments, whether operated by the government, barangay, or private entities, must grant a free parking privilege to all senior citizens.

Exemption from payment of parking fees shall apply only on the first three hours. On the fourth hour, the corresponding hourly rate shall already apply and be collected; and no fees shall be collected from the senior citizen in case of a flat rate policy.

The ordinance, once passed, will oblige all business establishments that collect parking fees, install signs to inform the public of the free parking privilege that senior citizens are entitled to.

The ordinance stipulates that complaints on violations of any provision of this ordinance may be filed with the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs which will assist in the filing of the necessary charges.

Any business establishment found to be in violation of the ordinance will be fined P1, 000.00 for the first offense, P1, 500.00 for the second offense, and P2,000.00 for the third offense.

The proposed amendatory ordinance was approved on first reading during the city council on Nov. 18 and referred to committee on laws, human rights, and justice for further study and recommendations.