Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Dad opposes tax hike on Burnham bizmen
By Rimaliza Opiña
A BAGUIO City councilor is not keen on increasing the taxes of concessionaires operating within the Burnham Park.
This, as Councilor Federico Mandapat Jr. pointed out during their regular session on Tuesday that raising the prevailing rates would commercialize the park, which contravenes the maxim that parks and other public areas should be beyond the commerce of man.
Councilor Perlita Chan-Rondez, chairperson of the City Council committee on tourism, parks and playgrounds, proposed the Burnham Park Tariff Code.
Mandapat said as far as commercialization is concerned, "the proposal has to be studied further."
Deliberation of the proposal was deferred with the suggestion that this, alongside the findings of a special committee that investigated the recently concluded trade fairs at Session Road and Camp John Hay, be discussed next time the City Council meets.
Rondez suggested an increased rate following the reduced subsidy given by the Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA) to the City Government. "It is imperative for the City Government to respond proactively by prescribing the rates of the different activities at the Burnham Park and other parks that are within the jurisdiction of the City Government."
She proposed that unless covered by a memorandum of agreement (MOA), all economic activities within the park are subject to yearly renewal and that vendors shall be allowed to sell only in areas identified by the City Environment and Parks Management Office (Cepmo).
Subleasing of stalls will be prohibited as well as begging or solicitations at the Burnham Park.
Rondez also proposed that to avoid the destruction of the park's lawns, operation of carnivals, trade fairs, expositions, tiangge, baratilyo prayer rallies and similar activities be held instead either at the Athletic Bowl or Sunshine Park.
Prescribed rates for the use of the Melvin Jones will be at P30,000 for five hours of actual use; P40,000 for eight hours plus P3,000 after every hour of use and P2,000 per hour use for rehearsals.
Proposed rates for the use of rose garden will be P3,000 for five hours of actual use; P5,000 for eight hours plus P600 for every hour thereafter and P300 for every hour of rehearsal.
A cash bond of P20,000 and P5,000, respectively, will be required from organized but would be released upon certification from the Cepmo that no damage was done in the area.
For the concessions, Rondez proposed that food stalls be rented out at P12,000 per stall, P3,000 for bicycle stalls, P2,000 for tricycle stalls, P4,500 for the orchidarium, P8,500 for the boating concessions, P65,000 each for the Solibao and Ganza Restaurants, P4,000 for softdrink stalls, P4,000 for the rental of AA Canteen, P10,000 for Angelita's Canteen, P8,000 for Oliva's Canteen, P1,500 each for the Cortez and Castro canteens, P4,000 each for the Quirante and APC souvenir stores and P2,000 for Tuvera's Canteen.
If the old library site is converted into a pay parking area, tourist buses will be charged P50 for the first hour plus P20 for every succeeding hour, P25 for pick-up trucks and vans plus P10 for every succeeding hour and P20 for cars and jeeps plus P10 for every succeeding hour.
(March 15, 2006 issue)
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