Ganza still eyed as Burnham parking

SAVE for the vacant lot near the Ganza Restaurant, there are no final plans to put up multi-level podium car parking facilities anywhere at Burnham Park.

Mayor Mauricio Domogan clarified this in response to the mounting opposition against the parking project at the city’s main park.

The mayor said there have been proposals to put up multi-level parking structures at Melvin Jones and at the former auditorium site which is now being used as parking area but these have remained as propositions and have not been finalized.

The mayor said he himself is opposed to the construction of parking facility at the area between the Orchidarium and the Children’s Park, the former site of Pantranco and the whole stretch of the city library as proposed by three councilors last May.

The proposed construction as contained in a resolution filed by Councilors Benny Bomogao, Michael Lawana and Faustino Olowan was however not approved by the city council but was referred to concerned city offices for them to come up with an immediate plan to identify roads within the central business district which can be used as parking sites

and a long-term parking plan which includes the conduct of feasibility studies on all possible sites.

The mayor appealed anew to residents and those opposing to give the parking project at the Ganza a chance considering that the area has long been serving as such.

“I am just particular about the Ganza area because it has long been used for parking and this project merely intends to maximize its use for the purpose of alleviating the city’s parking problem and generating income for the operation of the park,” the mayor said.

The mayor said the approved plan in the area provides for a simple, four-story podium structure with “green architecture” features.

He invited the movers behind the “Baguio We Want Forum” which spearheaded the signature campaign opposing the Burnham Park parking to thresh out the issues with the city.

“I hope to clarify the issues with them for us to arrive at a common understanding. We welcome their stand but please also try to see our point about Ganza,” the mayor said. PIO

Photo by Milo Brioso IN DIALOG - Roger Sinot speaks to the Indigenous cultural communities in Baguio explaining issues surrounding the now controversial Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR) slot in the city council.