The city government of Baguio has decided to abandon plans for a proposed parking building near the Manuel L. Quezon Elementary School (MLQES) following a significant backlash during public consultations regarding the project. Mayor Benjamin Magalong stated that although initial feedback was negative, the persistence of opposition to the project compelled the city to respect the sentiments of the populace and shelve the project.
“We engaged with the community and took their concerns into account; overwhelmingly, they opposed constructing a parking building in that area. Therefore, we have decided to forgo the construction of a parking facility there,” said Magalong.
With the parking building adjacent to MLQES now off the table, the city is exploring sites outside the central business district to address its parking needs for mobility projects.
Baguio City Administrator Bonifacio Dela Peña previously identified 19 potential sites for parking buildings, which could accommodate approximately half of the city’s parking demand. Currently, the city has only 2,700 public parking spaces for an estimated 56,000 registered vehicles, including 15,000 motorcycles. Magalong emphasized the need for around 40 public buildings to alleviate the parking shortage, estimating that they would need to accommodate up to 24,000 parked cars collectively to meet the city’s objectives.
Initially, Magalong and the city government proposed using the open lot next to MLQES and the PFVR gymnasium for a parking building. However, this proposal faced widespread opposition, with former MLQES principal Ligaya Annawi, concerned citizens, the MLQES school administration, and the Parent-Teacher Association uniting to oppose the plan during a public consultation held on April 17, 2024, at the PFVR gymnasium.
