Collection of regulatory fees on use of roads for parking starts March 11
BAGUIO CITY – (11 March 2021) – The city government started collecting regulatory fees for the use of certain roads at the Central Business District for parking last March 11.
This is pursuant to Ordinance No. 68 series of 2020 “Regulating the Use of Certain Roads/Streets within the Central Business District in the City of Baguio” approved by the city council and ratified by Mayor Benjamin Magalong in June last year.
The City Engineering Office under City Engineer Edgar Victorio Olpindo will implement the collection through the Traffic and Transport Management Division headed by Engr. IV Januario Borillo.
The roads covered are Lower Session Road (whole stretch and both sides), Upper Session Road (Leonard Wood Road junction up to Casa Vallejo), Upper Session Road – (T.M.Kalaw Road junction to PFVR) Gym entry, T.M. Kalaw St. (whole stretch fronting Court of Appeals and Supreme Court cottages), Assumption Road (corner Session Road to corner Gen. Luna – left lane), Harrison Road (along Melvin Jones grandstand up to opposite of Patriotic High School), Calderon Street (whole stretch of Skyworld area), Claudio Street (from Generica to Phoenix Café) and Kayang Hilltop Road (whole stretch, right lane towards Magsaysay Avenue.
Other roads and streets may later be designated by the City Traffic and Transportation Management Committee (TTMC) with approval of the City Council.
Time of regulation is from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily and the allowed vehicles are four-wheeled vehicles not exceeding 5.5 meters in length.
Vehicle owner shall pay regulatory fee upon parking based on the number of hours it needs. Maximum period will be three hours in a parking slot. A grace period of 15 minutes is allowed.
Four-wheeled vehicles will be charged P50 for the first two hours plus P20 for the succeeding hour motorcyles will be charged P20 for first two hours plus P10 for the succeeding hour. A fraction of more than 15 minutes is considered one hour.
Violations and corresponding fines are:
*Exceeding maximum parking hours — P500 for motor vehicles; P100 for motorcycles
*Clamping or towing — P1,500 for towed vehicles, P500 for towed motorcycle; P1,000 for clamped vehicle, P300 for towed motorcycle
*Refusal to pay regulatory fees — Immediate towing or clamping, removal of plate number and payment of the following fines: P1,500 for refusal to pay, P1,500 towing and P1,000 for clamping.
The designated parking spaces must not be used as staging area for PUV, repair bay except for flat tires, carwash, vending while parked, double-parking and others that will obstruct, prevent or modify the intended use of the spaces.
Exempted are ambulances, firetrucks, or any vehicle in the official service of the PNP, BJMP and AFP with proper markings and which are in the area for the conduct of official function;
Authorized vehicles used in the area for public works or works undertaken for public utilities such as electricity, water or other public undertaking;
Vehicles directed to the parking space by law enforcers for purposes of inspection;
Vehicles of a diplomats or foreign dignitaries and their entourage;
City Government vehicles and vehicles of City Government officials actually used by them
Vehicles that are part of the official entourage in an official activity happening within or near the regulated parking areas;
Other vehicles requested by the City Mayor to be exempt by reason of an official activity.
Pursuant to Ordinance No.149 series of 2020, senior citizen and persons with disabilities who are residents of Baguio and with valid Senor/PWD ID are exempted from paying parking fees on the first two hours but additional hours incurred should be paid at the rate stated in the ordinance. The senior/PWD should be the one driving the vehicle. – Aileen P. Refuerzo
