WITH THE current traffic and parking concerns in Davao City, the Philippine Researchers of the University of Mindanao (UM) Professional Schools have proposed a new parking facility model through surveyed insights into Davaoeños’ preferences.
During the Habi at Kape forum on June 19, Dr. Joel Tan, UM Institute of Popular Opinion director, said the study aimed to understand what features residents prefer in a parking facility.
“We hope these results will reach our government agencies for them to be able to get some insights in their planning or even policy-making,” Tan said.
Researchers evaluated preferences such as parking structure, accessibility, safety and security, amenities, and parking fees.
“The most preferred combination includes an automated multi-level parking structure, internet-connected intelligent parking systems, comprehensive CCTV surveillance, proximity to car washing areas, and a parking fee of P30 for the first three hours,” the study reads.
The study further stated these attributes drew the most responses, with a relative importance value of 35.9%, highlighting that “Davaoeños prioritize additional services that provide convenience and enhance their overall parking experience.”
Among the amenities, proximity to car washing areas was particularly valued, which means that residents appreciate the convenience of maintaining their vehicles while parked.
Parking fees with a value of 25.3% were the second most important attribute, indicating that cost is a critical consideration for Davao residents when choosing a parking facility. The preference for a fee of P30 for the first three hours reflects the need for affordable parking solutions.
Infrastructure, specifically the type of parking structure gained a significant value of 20.1%, with automated multi-level parking systems highly preferred, indicating a desire for modern, space-efficient parking solutions.
Safety and security were important but to a lesser extent, with a relative importance value of 12.4%. CCTV surveillance was the most favored safety feature.
Accessibility had the lowest relative importance value of 6.3%, suggesting that while Davaoeños value real-time information on parking availability, it is not as critical as other attributes.
Dr. Paul Moyon from the UM faculty said the study identified two areas in the city for the local government to put up parking spaces.
“One is in the San Pedro area, and the other is in the Uyanguren area in Chinatown which is the traffic and parking area is very hard to find; 92% of our respondents responded from those areas,” he said.
Moyon said this is not just an opportunity for the city but for those interested in putting up a public parking business as well.
File Photo: Bing Gonzales
