Planning Chief Clarifies Melvin Jones Issue
May 16, 2015
BAGUIO CITY – the Chief of the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) has come forward to put to rest issues of a multi-level parking facility at the premier park here.
Architect Evelyn Cayat in a letter to the public bellied allegations of a planned multi-level parking to rise within the Melvin Jones Football field circulating in the social networking site facebook.
Cayat stressed, “there is no planned construction of a multi-level parking in the site.”
Cayat said, “there is indeed a conceptual plan prepared by Architect Ignacio Estipona, the former City Architect and Parks Superintendent of the city government which incorporated a parking facility within the Melvin Jones Football Field area intended to address the parking demand within the Central Business District (CBD) at that time.”
It was however shelved due to lack of funds.
Recently though, the city government received a proposal from an Australian firm to conduct a feasibility study for a parking facility within Burnham Park at the proponents own expense.
The results of the feasibility study showed two options as viable, the first is the construction of a multi-level parking at the Ganza Area and another multi-level parking at the Solibao Area leaving the field intact which could accommodate more or less 2,484 vehicles while the second option would be to include the redevelopment of the football field that will have more or less 3,000 vehicle capacity.
This week, Domogan directed the creation of a Technical Working Group (TWG) to evaluate the feasibility study submitted by Parkwise, Inc.
The TWG will be chaired by the City Engineer with members composing the chiar of the Sangunian Panglungsod Committee on Tourism and Special Events, SP Committee chair on Public Utilities, the City Budget Officer, City Treasurer, City Accountant, City Planning and Development Officer, City Administrator, City Assessor, City General Services Officer and City Environment and Parks Management Officer.
The TWG was given 30 days to submit their evaluation and recommendations.
Domogan said, “the evaluation of the TWG including their recommendations will be endorsed to the City Council.”
Domogan said, “the city government will not push through with any project that could destroy the park or have detrimental effects on the environment.”/Paul Rillorta
