P400-M parking in the works

Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas wants to fast-track the establishment of P400-million seven-storey multi-purpose Legislative Parking Building to start construction works by yearend.

Treñas said the funding for the project is included in a supplemental budget to be approved by the City Council.

The amount was determined following discussions with the finance committee about the budgetary requirements.

“The facility will clear the streets in front of City Hall. We want to provide parking spaces for the use of everybody. It will have an area of 1,000 square meter per floor,” Treñas said.

The proposed edifice will be constructed beside Ker and Co. heritage building behind City Hall.

The first floor will host city offices so that it will be easier for the public to transact business.

The second to fifth floors will be designated as parking spaces. The area can accommodate 25 cars per floor or a total of 100 cars for four floors, Treñas added.

The two floors will host the city councilors’ offices for them to have bigger ones compared to the limited space at sixth floor of City Hall.

The mayor noted he is also in talks with the neighboring Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) for possible expansion of their building to host additional parking needs.

Treñas said the City Government is also scouting for prospective investors to build parking structures to address the demand following clearing of roads directed by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Multi-level parking building is considered as solution to lack of spaces in congested centers where the transacting public converge. (PIO)