Talks with b’gays pressed on roadside parking areas

By Jordan G. Habbiling

BAGUIO CITY – The Transportation and Traffic Management Division of the City Engineering Office is pushing segregation more roadside parking spaces making city councilors tell the TTMD this should be studied.
    Councilor Michael Lawana urged the TTMD to consult barangay officials first before designating additional parking spaces here.
    Lawana said barangay ordinances have been enacted to regulate certain roads and streets and the proposal of the TTMD may be in conflict with barangay laws.
    The ABC president said traffic rules in barangays are based on actual observations of village officials in their areas.
Public consultations with residents  took place before these barangay ordinances were enacted, he added.
    He said barangay officials have been deputized to carry out anti-road obstruction operations in which they are tasked to remove vehicles, equipment, and junk items obstructing city roads and streets.
    “The barangay officials know the traffic situation in those areas better than we do. We should not disregard their functions and duties,” he said.
    Lawana said constant coordination between government offices and barangays was needed to avoid implementing policies that overlap or in conflict.
    Engineer Januario Borillo, TTMD head, said he was willing to discuss the matter with the concerned barangays to harmonize their proposal with existing barangay ordinances.
    During last Monday’s regular session of the Baguio City Council, Borillo presented to the legislative body the proposal of the TTMD-CEO to designate additional parking spaces on the following streets/roads:
    E. Quirino Highway fronting Cooyeesan Hotel, Lakandula, Lapu-Lapu, Raja Soliman, Governor Pack Road near Session Road, Shanum Street, Magsaysay Road fronting Iglesia ni Cristo Church, Romulo Drive near the Mansion House, Outlook Drive at Mines View Park, and Leonard Wood Road near Botanical Garden up to LTO-CAR.
    The proposal of the TTMD-CEO to designate additional parking spaces stemmed from ordinance 68 series of 2020 which regulates use of certain roads/streets within the central business district by imposing regulatory fees to be collected from vehicle owners parking in those designated parking spaces.
    The ordinance stipulates the TTMD “may designate other roads that may be utilized for regulated pay parking with the approval of the Baguio City Council.”
    The proposed parking spaces in said places will generate around 229 parking slots. Borillo said those spaces are already being used for parking, but regulatory parking fees will be imposed once the proposal of the TTMD is approved.
    He said more roadside parking spaces may be identified to satisfy required number of parking slots in the city which is a minimum, 5,000 10,000 maximum (during peak season).
    According to Borillo, based on their inventory, there were around 2,300 slots in parking facilities in the central business district and 318 slots were roadside parking spaces.
    This brings a deficit of 2,382 slots with respect to the ideal number which is 5,000 slots, he said.
    Based on the report of the TTMD, a monthly net income of P971,399.00 will be generated from the operation of these additional roadside parking spaces.
    The TTMD head said proposed additional regulated parking spaces will not only add to the city’s revenue but will also help unemployed individuals.
    He proposed 50 parking attendants be employed to man these additional parking areas.
    Terminals/loading stations of public utility jeepneys originally located in Lakandula Street, Lapu-Lapu Street, and Rajah Soliman Street have been relocated to other areas.
    Despite Borillo’s claim that objections from affected transport groups and residents had subsided, Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan said concrete plans to ensure  convenience of the riding public should still be put in place.
    Olowan told Borillo to present to the council in the next regular session a more comprehensive traffic management plan for the city.