Private lots wanted for Baguio parking project

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY -- The city government is looking for privately owned lots that can be utilized for the implementation of its parking development project.
    Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the mode can either be for direct sale or joint venture with the city government.
Offers of proposals can be submitted to the City Planning and Development Office tel. no. (074) 442-6607.
    The mayor said parking remains a challenge in the city which needs to be addressed to solve the traffic problem and transportation issues.
    He said that as of now, only 2,700 parking slots are available in the city as against the demand of 22,000 to 40,000 spaces.
    The figure was based on the results of the feasibility study for the three-year smart transport and mobility project of the city which will modernize the city’s public transportation system as a long-term solution to the perennial traffic woes.
    To cater to the demand, the city would need around 40 parking structures, the mayor said.
    He said that at present, the city has identified 11 sites for constructing multi-level parking buildings and it would need more thus the decision to involve the private sector in the pursuit of said project.
    The Traffic and Transportation Management Division (TTMD) of the City Engineering Office said Land Transportation Office (LTO) records showed a total of 49,000 vehicles plying the city’s roads daily based on the number of registered private and public vehicles in 2022.
    This does not include the number of vehicles of outsiders including tourists entering the city daily.