P200 million parking structure soon to rise at BCC

July 21, 2019 Community Billboard

BAGUIO CITY – The city government plans to put up a six-storey parking structure at the back of the city owned Baguio Convention Center (BCC) to provide adequate parking spaces for residents and visitors of the city, Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong announced on Wednesday, July 17, 2019. Funding for the project will come from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Magalong said pursuant to the commitment of DPWH-CAR regional director Tiburcio Canlas who reportedly assured him the funds will come from the agency’s budget in the
next 2 years.

Magalong instructed concerned offices of the local government to ensure that the proposed area at the back of the said convention center will be free from encumbrances so that the DPWH can work out the corresponding provision of funds.

The parking structure is expected to accommodate a significant number of motor vehicles thus lessening obstruction along roads across the city. The funds for the project will not be released at one time but on a staggered basis within the next two years, to ensure that the parking structure will be operational at the end of the 2nd year, city administrator Bonifacio dela Peña said.

Dela Peña also said the city tourism and special events office will be included in the proposed 6-storey parking structure to address the absence of a decent office for the city’s tourism front liners.

The proposed parking structure will be three storeys up and 3 storeys down and located right at the back of the Baguio Convention Center, based on initial plans for the said structure.

Magalong ordered the concerned local government offices to conduct the required survey of the area for the city government to appropriately deal with property owners who have encroached along the said area.

DPWH requires the issuance of a certification from the end-user that the property to be developed will be free from encumbrances and informal settlers.

DPWH will release some P100 million every year within the next two years to bankroll the completion of the project, dela Peña said. He added that the project will showcase state-of-the-art construction methodologies as an example of the type of structures that can be erected in the city different from other public buildings in other parts of the city that house government offices.

Dela Peña assured concerned sectors in the city that the city government will closely monitor the construction of the proposed parking structure to ensure that the contractor complies with the project plans and specifications.

The proposed area for the parking structure is located inside a lot purchased by the local government from the state-owned Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) back in 2012.

Dexter A. See-PIO/ABN