DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A city councilor filed a resolution for the city to engage in a partnership with lot owners to develop parking spaces to resolve the city’s emerging traffic congestion.
Third District Councilor Conrado Baluran, who heads the committee on Transportation and Communication, said that there are plenty of idle properties within the city’s commercial district which can be potentially developed into high-rise car parks.
“With the increase of volume of vehicles plying the streets, while the roads remain the same, commercial parking spaces will be, if not the most, practical way to clear our narrowed streets from illegal parking,” the councilor said.
Davao City has experienced an increase in private vehicles in thoroughfares in recent years, which is attributed to the increase of investors and migrants ever since Rodrigo Duterte became president in 2016.
He added that he will tap the Davao City Investment Promotion Center (DCIPC), City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) City Transport and Traffic Management Office and other concerned agency through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to encourage property owners and/or developers to develop their properties as parking spaces for public use.
Baluran said that they are also looking for government-owned idle lots that can be utilized as parking spaces through a joint venture with developers.
The councilor said he is pushing for the implementation of City Council Ordinance No. 0417-18 series of 2018 entitled “The Special Incentive Package for Parking Spaces in Davao City”.
“During the time the ordinance, it was not promoted much, hence, I passed a resolution for massive information dissemination,” he said.
In exchange for the development of parking spaces, private investors will be duly provided with specialized fiscal incentive package in accordance with the ordinance.
Baluran also said parking spaces can be used for a fee. (davaotoday.com)
