ZAMBOANGA CITY – Under the leadership of Mayor John Dalipe, the Zamboanga City government has initiated the creation of new parking spaces in downtown areas, catering to both City Hall employees and the general public.
The recently designated parking areas include the “Balete Parking Area” near the City Hall Annex Building, presently used by City Hall employees. Additional spaces have been secured across the former Tsokolate Resto at the intersection of Rizal St. and NS Valderrosa, as well as the defunct City Theater at the intersection of I. Magno St. and P. Reyes St.
Mayor Dalipe, responding to the ongoing campaign against illegal parking on city streets, as outlined in Ordinance 601 and aligned with DILG Memorandum Circular 2016-121, intensified negotiations with private lot owners to secure more parking spaces in the city.
To ensure organized utilization, Mayor Dalipe issued Executive Order JD-101 on November 15, 2023, outlining the scope and purpose of the newly designated parking areas for both City Hall employees and the general public.
According to the executive order, the Balete Parking Area will now be open to the general public, accommodating both four-wheeled vehicles and motorcycles. However, 11 slots remain reserved for executive assistants, the Office of the City Administrator, the Office of the City Legal, and the city hall spokesperson.
The property across the Tsokolate Resto is exclusively designated for City Hall officials who were previously utilizing the Balete Parking Area. This includes offices such as the city accountant, assessor, budget, engineer, planning, treasurer, barangay affairs, public information, computer division, investment promotion, licensing, and internal audit.
The defunct City Theater, meanwhile, is allocated for motorcycle parking only.
The executive order enforces a strict prohibition on overnight parking across all three lots, except for LGU-owned service vehicles. Private vehicles left unattended after 6 pm will be subject to towing for impoundment.
The order is set to take effect on Monday, November 20, 2023. (Vic Larato; photo by Kathy Wee/Zamboanga LGU)
