Public hearing of proposal to hike parking fee today

CEBU, Philippines - Those who are not in favor of the proposed increase of roadside parking fees in Cebu City are requested to appear during the public hearing of the ordinance at the Cebu City Council this morning.

City Councilor Richard Osmeña, chairman of the City Council’s Committee on Traffic Management, proposed that that existing P15 parking fee per hour be increased to P20. Osmeña said the councilors will be happy to hear the views from the public about the issue.

The City Council’s Secretariat invited the leaders of the various public transport and driver’s groups in Cebu City to be present in today’s public hearing to present their views, whether they are for or against the proposed measures.

But while the City Council invited the transport and drivers group’s representatives, it failed to invite private vehicle owners who will be also affected by the proposed parking fee increase.

Osmeña did not attend when the City Council’s Traffic Management Committee deliberated his proposed measure, although the committee recommended in favor of his move.

Councilor Augustus Pe Jr., the other proponent of the proposed measure, said the move is not only for the CITOM to earn more but also to discourage motorists from parking their vehicles along the road for long periods of time.

Records show that CITOM collected P33.2 million in parking fees last year.

Osmeña and Pe believe that once the proposed increase of parking fees will be approved and implemented, motorists will no longer park their vehicles for so long at the designated parking areas to avoid paying huge fees.

Vehicle owner Fernando Maglasang also suggested that when the city will increase the parking fees, it must also enforce the existing ordinance that prohibits car watchers.

“Mag-doble na man hinoon ang atong gasto kay bayad pa ta sa parking ngadto sa CITOM unya mohatag pa g’yud ta sa mga sibilyan nga nagbantay kay kon dili ka mohatag sa sunod timan-an ta og hilabtan ang atong sakyanan,” he said. –(FREEMAN)