Escudero: Senate to provide 1,400 parking slots

The Senate will be providing 1,400 parking lots near the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) building that the Senate is currently leasing, Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said in a statement.

Escudero issued the statement while maintaining that parking is a significant problem in the New Senate Building under construction in Taguig City, something that Senator Nancy Binay had disputed.

“Kinuha na natin, hiningi natin, at hiniram natin ang lupa ng DPWH sa gawing kaliwa ko para makapagbigay ng humigit kumulang 300 na espasyo para sa parking,” he said.

(We asked the Public Works Department to give us 300 parking slots.)

In addition to securing land from the Department of Public Works and Highways, Escudero said he is also negotiating with the Social Security System to acquire more land at the back of the GSIS Building.

“Sa kabuuan, kaya nating makapagbigay ng humigi’t kumulang 1,400 slot para sa mga nagmo-motor at may sasakyan," he added.

(All in all, we can give 1,400 additional parking slots both for cars and motorcycles.)

Escudero said that since he assumed the Senate presidency last May 22, he has been making the rounds of every office in the current Senate building to better understand the needs and concerns of the chamber’s 2,000 officials and employees.

Escudero earlier ordered the review of the New Senate Building, saying its budget has already reached P23 billion and lacks parking spaces for Senate employees and guests alike. — Llanesca T. Panti/RSJ, GMA Integrated News