Parañaque plans to charge motorists for BF stickers

By Rhodina Villanueva

The Philippine Star 01/14/2006

The Parañaque City government has announced plans to charge motorists for stickers that will allow them to use roads within BF Homes Subdivision.

Nelson Lacambra, spokesman of Parañaque Mayor Florencio Bernabe, said city officials came out with the plan after a regional trial court ordered the opening of the subdivision gates for public use.

Prior to the court order, the village gates were under the administration of the United BF Homeowners’ Association Inc. (UBFHAI). The group was also responsible for the release of the stickers to give access to vehicles going in and out of the village.

“The city government will still be honoring stickers which have been issued by the UBFHAI, but have not yet expired. After the expiration, City Hall will be coming out with new stickers to be given out to motorists in the area,” Lacambra said.

He claimed that a “minimal” fee will be charged to vehicles that will be issued stickers but that would just reportedly be enough to cover administrative and printing costs.

“The issuance of stickers is just one measure the city government plans to undertake in coordination with the concerned barangay to regulate cars and delivery vehicles passing through El Grande and Aguirre,” Lacambra said.

He likewise bared plans to close to public motorists said roads in Barangay BF at particular hours of the day.

“They will also be deliberating on what type of vehicles should be allowed entry inside the subdivision premises,” Lacambra said. “They plan to set limits on what kind of vehicles can have access to the village gates.”

He added that the move aims to ensure order in the area as well as provide security to subdivision residents.

Late last year, subdivision gates were ordered opened to public motorists after the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) denied an appeal by the UBFHAI to maintain control of roads passing through the village.

Citing lack of merit, Muntinlupa Judge Alberto Lerma denied the motion for reconsideration filed by the UBFHAI and recognized “the power of the city to open roads leading to subdivisions in the exercise of police power in the interest of public welfare.”

The Parañaque police immediately enforced the order. El Grande and Aguirre Avenues have since been opened to the public and treated as commercial roads.

Motorists, however, wondered why they have to pay for stickers in a road declared for public use, or why stickers have to be issued at all.

Meanwhile, UBFHAI president Celso Reyes criticized the plan of the city government to issue stickers to motorists.

“The city officials have been saying they want the public to have access to the subdivision gates, but after the court decided in their favor, the are contradicting their previous statement,” Reyes stressed.

For its part, the Las Piñas City government said it will be issuing stickers which can be availed for free by motorists wanting to gain entry to subdivision gates.

City Public Information Officer Jimi Castillano said “friendship stickers” allow motorists access to identified “friendship routes” in the city.

“It was decided upon by the city government that they will not charge any fee for that. That is the way Mayor Imelda Aguilar wants it,” he added.