SOME government employees seek exemption from paying parking fees at the Public Pay Parking Zones, an official from the City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) said.
CTTMO head Dionisio Abude said while the implementation of the pay parking zone generated a favorable response from the motorists, he admitted it did not sit well with some government employees whose offices are located near the designated parking zones.
"Dili maayo ang comment nga nadunggan sa atong mga enforcer sa mga government employees ug mga pulis nga nag-park sa ilang sakyanan (Our enforcers got negative feedback from government employees, especially from police personnel who are parking their vehicles)," Abude said.
He said employees complained that paying the parking fees only adds up to their daily expenses.
"Gi-compute nila nga within a day, P80 ilang magasto. In one month, P1,600 madeduct sa ila sweldo (Based on their computation, they will spend P80 a day. Within a month, P1,600 will be deducted from their salary)," Abude said.
The parking zone, implemented last January 2, has different rates per vehicle type.
Rate for trucks and buses is P100 for the first two hours and P20 for succeeding hours; P20 for light vehicles for the first two hours and P10 for succeeding hours; motorcycle rate is P5 for first two hours and P1 for succeeding hours; and P2 for bicycles during the first two hours and P1 for the succeeding hours.
The traffic head said his office currently suspended the inclusion of the vicinity of the City Hall of Davao in the parking zone, while they settle the matter. This covers from Bolton Street going to Chowking in San Pedro Street.
Abude said, in case they will not be granted exemption, the office heads should grant subsidy to the employees.
"Pangitaan nila'g pamaagi nga i-budget sa mga department heads, kay kung sagubangon gyud sa mga empleyado, basin dako-dako ang makaltas sa mga empleyado (The department heads should find means to allocate budget for these employees, because if we will not give subsidy, employees will have a lesser take home pay)," he said.
Abude, previously, said they can exempt auxiliary vehicles responding to emergency situations.
Councilor Conrado Baluran, committee head on transportation and communication, suggested CTTMO to designate a special parking area for government workers.
Baluran said he already extended his suggestion to Abude and the traffic head said they will study the proposal.
"Mangita ta og lugar nga pwede i-designate nga didto lang sila mag-park, pero walking distance lang siya (We will look for a designated parking place for government employees and it should be only a walking distance (from where the city hall))," the councilor said on Wednesday, January 8.
Baluran said it would be difficult to exempt them from paying the parking fee, since its exemption is not stated in the passed Comprehensive Transport and Traffic Code of Davao City.
The councilor, meanwhile, suggested to utilize one of the lots near the City Hall Drive as an ideal lot for a parking space, intended for government employees.
However, the government has yet to settle its acquisition.
Baluran reiterated his call for a public private partnership (PPP) for the establishment of parking spaces in vacant lots.
Baluran, in 2018, passed Ordinance 0417-18 or "The Special Incentive Package For Parking Space In Davao City."
He said the ordinance was passed to address the problem of parking space by enticing private investors and property owners, in coordination with concerned agencies, to develop their properties as parking space for public use for fees similar to Manila and Cebu.