The city government is eyeing to erect at least 30 parking buildings capable of accommodating a maximum of 22,000 parking slots to address the growing parking needs of this summer capital.

Gaby Keith, city assistant information office chief, said these proposed slots would be an addition to the 2,700 parking slots currently existing in the city.

He said the city government is eyeing to fund the parking project from its 2024 budget.

At least eight areas have been identified to be the site of multi-level parking buildings, including the Bureau of Fire Protection area, Bayan Park in Aurora Hill, the old city auditorium area, GSIS property in DPS Compound Barangay, Baguio Convention Center compound, and the former Tennis Court parking area.

Baguio’s current parking spaces are mostly in private properties like malls, privately owned vacant lots, and roadside parking of the city and the Ganza parking space which is also city-managed.

The cost of parking in the city is currently PHP50 for three hours on roadside parking, while private parking spaces vary in charges.

The issue of parking is a perennial problem in the city, contributing to traffic congestion considering the narrow roads of the city, and roadside parking leaving only one or two lanes for vehicles to pass through.

The city government earlier said it has about 56,000 registered vehicles, including 15,000 motorcycles.

Its smart mobility master plan has projected that 22,000 parking slots are needed to rid the city’s streets of roadside parking. (PNA)