21 November 2005
SP passes parking fee ordinance; City gets 20%, parking operator 80% in sharing scheme
WITHOUT much fanfare and to the surprise of many Dagupenos, the sangguniang panlungsod last Monday passed an ordinance regulating parking and imposing fees and penalties at the two major thoroughfares and busy streets in Dagupan city.
With only seven members present including Vice-Mayor Alvin Fernandez, the measure was approved unanimously. Curiously, six sanggunian members were absent to include Councilor Jose Netu Tamayo whose public order committee was supposed to take a pivotal role in the discussion of the measure.
Reports said that the legislative body thru Tamayo’s committee and other concerned committees did not hold any committee or public hearing for the purpose, thus eliciting negative reactions from the public particularly the media.
City Ordinance No. 1853-2005 as approved seeks to define parking areas and impose fees and penalties.
Light vehicles that include mini trucks and pick-ups are to be charged P20 for the first two hours and P5 for every hour thereafter, and for medium vehicles like delivery vans and trucks below 10-wheelers, the fee is P30 for the first hour and P10 for every hour beyond.
Vehicle owners may opt to apply for a monthly prepaid season parking ticket or pass which is good for 30 days. Light vehicles are to be charged P1,000 and for medium vehicles, P1,500.
A draft ordinance amendment, authored by Councilor Luis Samson, Jr. who also authored the parking measure, a copy of which was obtained by the Pangasinan Star sought to raise the parking ticket/pass to P1,500 for light vehicles, and P3,500 for medium vehicles.
The city government will get 20 percent of the gross collections or a flat rate of P30,000 per month, whichever is higher. The draft ordinance raised the amount to P50,000 per month. It was not clear if the amendment was likewise passed as sanggunian staff appeared not aware of subsequent legislative action on the matter.
Violators for illegal parking or non-payment of parking fees will be slapped a fine of P500.
The present parking system was practically adopted by the ordinance: south side of A.B. Fernandez Avenue; Perez Boulevard, north side, Arellano street, west side; Rizal street, east side; M.H. del Pilar, west side; and Mayombo, west side. Parking was also regulated in other city roads and streets.
Sections 17, 18 and 458 of the local government code were cited as basis of authority in enacting the ordinance, which repealed city Ordinance No. 1424 passed in 1992.
Exempted from the regulation fees are ambulances, firetrucks, police and military vehicles and service vehicles of utilities doing public works, electrical and water services.
It was not immediately known if the Department of Public Works and Highways which maintains the national roads was consulted. Except for the side streets, all major roads running thru the city are categorized national highways.
Critics maintained that the 80-20 sharing scheme was very disadvantageous to the city.
Under the ordinance, Mayor Benjamin S. Lim was authorized to enter into a memorandum of agreement with a private parking operator. (DOS)
With only seven members present including Vice-Mayor Alvin Fernandez, the measure was approved unanimously. Curiously, six sanggunian members were absent to include Councilor Jose Netu Tamayo whose public order committee was supposed to take a pivotal role in the discussion of the measure.
Reports said that the legislative body thru Tamayo’s committee and other concerned committees did not hold any committee or public hearing for the purpose, thus eliciting negative reactions from the public particularly the media.
City Ordinance No. 1853-2005 as approved seeks to define parking areas and impose fees and penalties.
Light vehicles that include mini trucks and pick-ups are to be charged P20 for the first two hours and P5 for every hour thereafter, and for medium vehicles like delivery vans and trucks below 10-wheelers, the fee is P30 for the first hour and P10 for every hour beyond.
Vehicle owners may opt to apply for a monthly prepaid season parking ticket or pass which is good for 30 days. Light vehicles are to be charged P1,000 and for medium vehicles, P1,500.
A draft ordinance amendment, authored by Councilor Luis Samson, Jr. who also authored the parking measure, a copy of which was obtained by the Pangasinan Star sought to raise the parking ticket/pass to P1,500 for light vehicles, and P3,500 for medium vehicles.
The city government will get 20 percent of the gross collections or a flat rate of P30,000 per month, whichever is higher. The draft ordinance raised the amount to P50,000 per month. It was not clear if the amendment was likewise passed as sanggunian staff appeared not aware of subsequent legislative action on the matter.
Violators for illegal parking or non-payment of parking fees will be slapped a fine of P500.
The present parking system was practically adopted by the ordinance: south side of A.B. Fernandez Avenue; Perez Boulevard, north side, Arellano street, west side; Rizal street, east side; M.H. del Pilar, west side; and Mayombo, west side. Parking was also regulated in other city roads and streets.
Sections 17, 18 and 458 of the local government code were cited as basis of authority in enacting the ordinance, which repealed city Ordinance No. 1424 passed in 1992.
Exempted from the regulation fees are ambulances, firetrucks, police and military vehicles and service vehicles of utilities doing public works, electrical and water services.
It was not immediately known if the Department of Public Works and Highways which maintains the national roads was consulted. Except for the side streets, all major roads running thru the city are categorized national highways.
Critics maintained that the 80-20 sharing scheme was very disadvantageous to the city.
Under the ordinance, Mayor Benjamin S. Lim was authorized to enter into a memorandum of agreement with a private parking operator. (DOS)
