Baguio charges parking fees on main city streets

By Liza Agoot  

BAGUIO CITY – The Baguio City government has started collecting parking fees on nine main roads at the Central Business District, effectively scrapping the prohibition on roadside parking.
    Aileen Refuerzo, chief of the Baguio City Public Information Office on Monday said the roads include the whole stretch and both sides of Lower Session Road; Upper Session Road from Leonard Wood Road junction to Casa Vallejo; Upper Session Road from T. M. Kalaw road junction to the entrance of PFVR Gym entry; T.M. Kalaw Street fronting Court of Appeals and Supreme Court cottages; Assumption Road from the corner Session Road to corner Gen. Luna; Harrison Road along Melvin Jones grandstand up to the opposite of Patriotic High School; the Skyworld area on Calderon Street; Claudio Street from Generica to Phoenix Café and the right lane of Kayang Hilltop Road towards Magsaysay Avenue.
    The parking fees are imposed based on Ordinance No. 68, series of 2020, regulating the use of some roads and streets within the business district approved in June last year.
    The fees are applicable to vehicles not exceeding 5.5 meters long between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
    Four-wheeled vehicles will be charged P50 for the first two hours plus P20 for the succeeding hour while motorcycles will be charged P20 for the first two hours plus P10 for the succeeding hour.
    A fraction of more than 15 minutes is considered one hour.
    Vehicles are allowed to use the slot for three hours. Vehicle owners who violate the ordinance are charged fines.
    Exceeding maximum parking hours is charged PHP500 for motor vehicles and P100 for motorcycles.
    Clamped or towed vehicles are fined P1,500 and P500 for motorcycles.
    Vehicles of violators will be immediately towed, clamped and the plate number is confiscated with each violation and a fee of P1,000 to P1,500.
    Senior citizens and persons with disabilities who are driving the vehicle and are residents of Baguio and with valid Senior/PWD identification are exempted from paying parking fees on the first two hours. Additional hours incurred should be paid at the rate stated in the ordinance. -- PNA