Tax incentives for parking spaces pushed in Davao

THE Committee for Trade, Commerce and Industry conducted a committee hearing on Wednesday, July 5, for the proposed ordinance that will provide special tax incentive package for properties to be developed and utilized as parking spaces within Davao City.

Committee chair Jimmy Dureza, on Wednesday, met with the representatives of the Davao City Investment Promotions Office, Davao City Office of the Building Official, City Treasurer's Office and many others for the proposed ordinance.

“Kulang man gud ta sa city og mga parking area unlike sa Manila nga muadto ka Makati, wala (public) parking pero naay mga property owners nga naghimo ug parking spaces and parking buildings. Gina-encourage nato ang (We lack parking areas here unlike in Manila. If you will go to Makati, there are no public parking areas there but there are property owners that build parking spaces and parking buildings. We encourage) property owners to put up parking areas for a fee, or without fee naasilay building,” Dureza said.

Although, the public should expect fees to be collected if these are private properties.

During the committee hearing, DCIPC representative Christian Cambaya said the ordinance seeks to address traffic congestion and to urge real property owners to develop and use their properties to allocate parking spaces when feasible.

The draft reads that “The City Government of Davao, in order to fully assist property owners, who wish to respond to this endeavor, comes up with incentive package which will benefit property owners.”

The details of incentives are still to be discussed in another committee hearing to be held next week.

Dureza said that after the committee hearings, public hearings will also be conducted before they will pass the committee report to the council.