BAGUIO CITY – The local transport sector expressed its full support to the long overdue plan of the city government and private investors to put up a multi-level parking facility within the city’s central business district area considering that it is the ultimate solution to the worsening traffic congestions, especially during the peak tourism season.
Perfecto Itliong, Jr., regional coordinator of the Public Transport Affairs Office (PTAO) in the Cordillera, said the best site for the multi-level parking facility will be at the former site of the old city library because of its sufficient land area enough to accommodate the facility and that it is strategically located within the prime tourist destinations of the city.
“We have no option but to start building the needed multi-level parking facility purposely to accommodate the huge volume of vehicles that frequent our city curing the peak season and even during ordinary days. Let us do it now before it will be too late for us to address our worsening traffic problem,” Itliong stressed.
He pointed out local officials and residents were able to experience tremendous traffic congestions during the prolonged Yuletide season, the extended holidays in time for the visit of Pope Francis to the country and even during the highlights of the Panagbenga that is why it is now time for the local government to push through with the public-private partnership for the building of the needed multi-level parking facility.
According to him, one of the strategies to contribute in easing the daily traffic jams within the central business district area is to remove the vehicles parked along the city’s streets by providing the availability of the multi-level parking facility where the motor vehicles will be placed.
Itliong admitted local roads can no longer expand to accommodate the increasing volume of vehicles but the remedy to the situation is to put up the needed multi-level parking facility to serve as a strategic parking area for all types of vehicles so as not to congest the sides of the streets that could still be used by motorists.
He disclosed the local transport groups have been consistent in favouring the put up of the needed multi-level parking facility considering that the same was officially endorsed by the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Council (RLECC) several years ago and that it is now under the scrutiny of the Transport and Traffic Management Committee (TTMC) of the city government.
Itliong said the closure of major roadlines to pave the way for the conduct of important city led activities complicates the traffic situation in the city that is why the presence of a multi-level parking facility in any part of the central business district area will contribute in providing motorists convenient travel around the city because vehicles along side streets will no longer be allowed so that the spaces will be utilized for the free travel of motorists.
He called on the motoring and commuting public to make definite positions regarding the put up of the multi-level parking facility so that the city government and the private sector will be compelled to put to reality the long overdue project for the benefit of convenient travel for local residents and visitors.
He said the local transport groups will reiterate their proposal in future gatherings to be organized to gather proposals on how to ease the city’s traffic woes.
