MAGALONG ASSURES TRANSPARENCY ON PROPOSED PARKING BUILDINGS

April 20, 2024 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY

Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong assured transparency in his administration amid opposing views during the public consultation on a proposed parking building supposed to be developed over a city-owned lot beside the Manuel L. Quezon Elementary School (MLQES) in Barangay Military Cut-off. The public consultation was held Wednesday, 17 April 2024 at the PFVR gymnasium for the city government to present its parking building proposal. The city government plans to build a multi-level parking structure with green architecture over its 260,000 sqm.

Architect Ellaine Ganga of the City Buildings and Architecture Office said the building design will have a futsal sports area at the roof deck of the building to cater to students; a living wall or plants and greeneries to serve as carbon dioxide filter; a water harvesting facility and water recycling system to run the building; solar-powered facility; and smart system parking using applications to pre-book parking slots before entering the building and avoid waiting in long lines thereby lessening traffic congestion in the area.

Atty. Rhenan Diwas of the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) talked about carbon emission
sequestration by lessening the volume of vehicles going around the city roads looking for possible parking spaces.
“Imagine the amount of fuel combusted to the air with the number of vehicles going round and round city roads
looking for parking whereas, if we have a parking lot they can park and turn off their engine,” Diwas explained.
However, most of the participants aired vehement objections to the proposed project.

MLQES former principal Ligaya Annawi along with the concerned citizens, the school administration and the parent
and teachers’ association in opposing the city’s plan citing ecological and environmental impacts as well as the welfare of students. She added the open space serves as an evacuation area of the surrounding educational institutions in cases of emergency. The public consultation ended with an assurance from the mayor that all sentiments and public opinions will be considered by the city government.

JM Samidan/Baguio-PIO