PARKING facilities for Burnham were presented last week hoping to get the nod of the city.
Proponents XY Fuji Elevators Philippines and All Asia Corporation presented multi-level parking space proposals both at the Ganza parking area to the Burnham Park Technical Working Group (TWG) Monday morning, September 23.
Ed Cruz of XY Fuji Elevators Philippines revealed plans bankrolled by Chinese partners for a five–level 4,320 square meter steel parking building which can accommodate 668 cars at one time.
Cruz said the facility is similar to the existing parking system in Divisoria which they operate using swipe cards and sensor directed parking with a 70-second time allotment to park and retrieve vehicles with a backup generator to power operations even during blackouts.
Cruz said the entire project costs P270 million and has a five-year warranty from the company which will aid the city to operate the system for an entire year before turning it over.
Engineer Jesse Lopez of All Asia Corporation meanwhile presented a P400 million Public Private Partnership deal to city stakeholders comprised of a three story steel structure which can accommodate 700 vehicles and serve as a common terminal for jeepneys as well as a business venue for small and medium entrepreneurs.
Lopez said the transport terminal component can be either bidded out by the city to interested entities or managed by the city on its own. The building in itself is envisioned to be connected by footbridges from the overpasses at Harrison road to eliminate foot traffic.
Lopez said the city stands to gain income from leasing the spaces as well as income from the terminal operations as well as acquiring the shell of the structure after the lease of the company expires.
Both proposals were accepted by the TWG of the Burnham Park and was likewise presented during the executive legislative meeting headed by Mayor Benjamin Magalong with Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan.
A clamor to keep Burnham as an open space has been raised in the past administration with Tourism secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat issuing statements on keeping Burnham Park as an open space, disallowing building of a parking facility.
Local advocates have likewise raised the same concerns in the past with “The Baguio We Want Forum” (BWWF) issuing protests to previous plans, saying the park’s water table is shallow that it could not handle a multi-level parking lot.