VM wants city to charge parking at Plaza Sugbu

CEBU, Philippines - Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young wants to charge motorists who park their vehicles at the Plaza Sugbu grounds.

Young said the move is not necessarily intended as a revenue generating venture but to control the number of vehicles that park at the Plaza Sugbu. He said it has been observed that owners of establishments that do not have parking spaces use the Plaza Sugbu grounds from morning until afternoon.

Because of this, people who have official business at City Hall no longer have parking spaces.

“Ang plano nga atong pabayron ang mu-parking sa Plaza Sugbu wala ni gitumong aron nga makakwarta ang City Hall kon dili aron makontrolar nato ang mga sakyanan. Tan-awon nato mahimo nga kadtong dunay mga transaksyon sa City Hall hatagan ba og discount sa ilang parking fee,” Young said.

“Ang uban sa mga sakyanan giparking ra diha sa mga manimba sa Basilica. Nganong kita may mo-provide nila og parking area?” said Young.

The vice mayor said he is yet to find out if the move would need an ordinance to be implemented.

At the Capitol, the collection of parking fees from vehicles that park at the Capitol parking area has been supported with an ordinances passed by members of the Provincial Board, the counterpart of the Cebu City Council.

Meanwhile, City Hall may also expect the problem of lack of parking space, particularly for the hundreds of motorcycles, after Mayor Michael Rama ordered to put up metal railings surrounding the century-old Gotiaoco Building and adjacent old structures along M. C. Briones Street.

The sidewalk of the old buildings have been used as parking areas for motorcycles. The two-wheeled vehicles are not allowed to park at the Plaza Sugbo grounds, except those that are parked beside the detachment office of the Tourist Police along D. Jakosalem Street. (FREEMAN)