The Pangasinan Star ONLINE

THE PEN SPEAKS
Danny O. Sagun

DOES the city government have the personality or authority to impose parking fees along the major thoroughfares in the city to include the two national roads – A.B. Fernandez Avenue and Perez Boulevard?

We ask this question in the wake of a proposal to regulate parking in these thoroughfares and eventually impose fees. We thought al along that national roads are beyond the scope or authority of the city government so that the latter can derive financial benefits as parking fees.

If we recall correctly, there was a similar move during the late 1980s and early 90s but the proposed ordinance was archived and gathered dusts at the sanggunian secretariat.

Perhaps if the national government thru the public works and highways department grants such authority, then and only then can the city regulate the use of such roads to include imposition of parking charges.

But if that is possible, where will the money go -- to the city coffers only?
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Motorists like us are always worried where we can park our vehicles particularly along A.B. Fernandez Avenue during peak periods as 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. There seems to be no space available most of the time.

Where are all the vehicles coming from, anyway? Is it true that most of those parked vehicles belong to the owners of the establishments who have practically appropriated the road shoulder as their own permanent parking space? Look how they put chairs on the shoulder fronting a store, suggesting that the space is already reserved for the car of the store owner. One time, we had to call the attention of a traffic aide when the salesladies of a store refused to remove the chairs they put as barrier to others who wish to park there.

Will the charging of parking fees as proposed discourage such a practice? Maybe. But wait. The move might even encourage business establishment owners to practically “own” the spaces fronting them what with the proposal that they can bargain for a “wholesale price,” say, paying the fee monthly. Or, they could just “grease” the parking attendants who will look the other way and allow them perpetual use of such precious spaces without ay gain going to the city government.

A thorough study and deliberation by our concerned city officials is therefore a must.
In Baguio City, vehicle owners are charged parking fees along the roads surrounding the Burnham park. Dagupan may similarly charge fees for vehicles parked at the city plaza or in the sidestreets of Zamora, Galvan etc, which are city roads. With such designated parking spaces, the city can then ban parking on the shoulders of the national highways.

We will even have smoother traffic flow.

That will be the day.