Rama eyes using city lots as parking facilities

CEBU, Philippines - The city government is eyeing to utilize its existing properties in the downtown area to serve as parking facilities to address the persistent problem of illegally parked vehicles.

Yesterday, Acting Mayor Michael Rama has instructed acting city engineer Nicomedes Leonor and the acting city treasurer Renee Empaces to study the feasibility of constructing a building at what used to be the Freedom Park.

Rama said his plan is to construct a building wherein the ground floor can be utilized by vendors while the upper floors can be utilized as public parking.

“Atong paninguhaon nga ang mga vendors karon nga anaa sa Freedom Park makabalik gihapon sa pagpaninda sa silong unya sa building kun mahuman,” Rama said.

Some of the vendors are staying at their stalls at the Freedom Park but the same violates the memorandum of undertaking they entered into with the city that the stalls should not be used like a residence.

Aside from the former Freedom Park, Rama is also eyeing at converting into a parking facility the former Citi-Center Commercial Complex in barangay Kamagayan. He said he will discuss the plan with other officials of City Hall today.

The absence of adequate parking spaces in downtown Cebu usually forces motorists to park their vehicles just about anywhere along the road.

“Nindot g’yud kaayo nang plano ni (acting mayor) Rama kay duna na may lugar unya nga maparkingan, labi na og mas barato ang parking fee kay dili man negosyo ang sa city,” Fermin Maglasang, a motorist, said. — Rene U. Borromeo/JMO (THE FREEMAN)