21 December 2005
DPWH, Dagupan City in showdown over pay parking areas
THE Department of Public works and Highways is likely to oppose an ordinance approved by the Dagupan City council declaring portions of city and national roads here as pay parking areas without any prior consultation with the former.
DPWH Regional Director Fidel Ginez, in an interview Friday, said his office will not be commenting on the pay parking ordinance till after it is signed into law by Mayor Benjamin S. Lim
Offhand, Ginez maintained that national roads, although within Dagupan City, are under the jurisdiction of the DPWH.
“We might as well hand over all these roads to them so that we would no longer spend anything for their maintenance,” Ginez told newsmen with a hint of sarcasm. Public Works and Highways District Engineer Rodolfo Dion admitted that he was not invited when the Dagupan City council supposedly conducted a public hearing on the propose measure, otherwise he could have advised councilors that they must first enter into a memorandum of agreement with the DPWH headed by Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane.
Ginez said his office will act accordingly if someone from the public will complain after the ordinance is finally signed into law and implemented.
Last week, city Administrator Rafael Baraan said the mayor is likely to sign the ordinance into law, except on the aspect of the 20-80 sharing basis in favor of the parking contractor.
Under the scheme, 20 percent will go to the city government and the bulk of 80 percent will go to a private contractor who will enter into a contract with the city government to operate the pay parking areas, issue tickets and collect parking fees.
Baraan, however, stressed that there is a need for the city to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the DPWH on the pay parking rule.
Baraan maintained that there is nothing wrong if Dagupan will charge parking fees because this is now being done in Manila, Baguio and other big cities.
He said he found nothing wrong with the pay parking ordinance as this is one way of regulating the use of roads and streets, some of which have been arrogated upon by owner of motor vehicles and business establishments for their own use.
DPWH Regional Director Fidel Ginez, in an interview Friday, said his office will not be commenting on the pay parking ordinance till after it is signed into law by Mayor Benjamin S. Lim
Offhand, Ginez maintained that national roads, although within Dagupan City, are under the jurisdiction of the DPWH.
“We might as well hand over all these roads to them so that we would no longer spend anything for their maintenance,” Ginez told newsmen with a hint of sarcasm. Public Works and Highways District Engineer Rodolfo Dion admitted that he was not invited when the Dagupan City council supposedly conducted a public hearing on the propose measure, otherwise he could have advised councilors that they must first enter into a memorandum of agreement with the DPWH headed by Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane.
Ginez said his office will act accordingly if someone from the public will complain after the ordinance is finally signed into law and implemented.
Last week, city Administrator Rafael Baraan said the mayor is likely to sign the ordinance into law, except on the aspect of the 20-80 sharing basis in favor of the parking contractor.
Under the scheme, 20 percent will go to the city government and the bulk of 80 percent will go to a private contractor who will enter into a contract with the city government to operate the pay parking areas, issue tickets and collect parking fees.
Baraan, however, stressed that there is a need for the city to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the DPWH on the pay parking rule.
Baraan maintained that there is nothing wrong if Dagupan will charge parking fees because this is now being done in Manila, Baguio and other big cities.
He said he found nothing wrong with the pay parking ordinance as this is one way of regulating the use of roads and streets, some of which have been arrogated upon by owner of motor vehicles and business establishments for their own use.
