Davide to meet Osmeña on parking lot proposal

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III is set to meet Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña on the latter’s plan to open a parking space for business process outsourcing (BPO) employees at the Cebu I.T. Park.

Osmeña wants to use a province-owned lot right across the park to address the complaint of BPO workers that parking fee within the 27-hectare economic zone has become to exorbitant.

"Karon nga week tingali, akoa siyang tawgon. Nagsabot na mi nga mag-inistoryaanay," Davide said.

In a letter he sent Davide earlier, Osmeña told the governor the city is willing to enter into a possible agreement with Capitol for the use of the lot. He said the city is willing to discuss terms that would benefit the provincial government economically while helping the BPO workers.

Formerly known as “Asiatown I.T. Park”, the Cebu I.T. Park is the BPO hub in Cebu City and the province, attracting thousands of workers on a regular basis.

Recently, however, workers there who own cars have complained of the rising parking cost, now at P50 per hour.

Aside from the meeting with Osmeña, Davide said he will have to speak with the provincial administrator over the mayor’s proposal. 

"Amoa usang istoryaan kung approved ba sa Cebu Provincial Administrator… basta ang presyo should be affordable for the call center agents," Davide said.

 According to his post on Facebook, Osmeña said he is eyeing at P20 for 12 hours – or even lower – at the parking lot the city wants to operate, as long as operational expenses are covered.

He also plans of deploying a shuttle that would ferry BPO employees to and from I.T. Park.

 Davide said the province will generate income if the deal with the city pushes through.

"Maka-earn ta'g income ana. Maka-earn og income ang province ana," he said. (FREEMAN)