BAGUIO CITY August 25 – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan reiterated his previous appeal to barangay officials to already reserve available open spaces in their respective areas as common parking spaces for their constituents to prevent the use of local roads as parking areas causing traffic.
The local chief executive pointed out that barangays must already reserve available open spaces to prevent these from being illegally occupied or titled by enterprising individuals depriving the barangays of spaces for public needs.
“We have to be aggressive in finding solutions to our worsening traffic and parking problems so that our motoring and commuting public will be able to experience relief from the tremendous traffic because of illegally parked vehicles on our narrow roads,” Domogan stressed.
He called on barangay officials to replicate the efforts of Barangay Pinsao Pilot Project that set aside a common parking area for the vehicles of their constituents deterring the use of roads as parking areas.
According to him, in cases where there are private claimants to the proposed open spaces for barangay common parking areas, the city leadership shall assist in negotiating with the said claimants so that the need for common parking areas will be given the utmost priority over the personal interests of individuals.
The city official appealed to barangay officials to prioritize the identification of open spaces for common parking areas to reduce illegal parking on roads.
He observed that numerous individuals acquire motor vehicles but they do not have the matching parking spaces within their residences resulting in the use of the roads as parking spaces further constricting the usable portions of narrow roads.
He added he will bring the matter to the attention of barangay officials during the next meeting of the Association of Barangay Councils to update information on barangays with already identified open spaces which can also serve as pay parking areas for income generation.
The absence of sufficient parking areas around the city contribute to the wayward parking of motor vehicles along all roads and streets resulting in worsening traffic conditions. **By Dexter A. See
