By Minka Tiangco Those who have vacant lots in Valenzuela City can now convert them into parking spaces and get incentives from the Valenzuela City government. The local government implemented City Ordinance No. 601 series of 2019 or the "Parking ng Bayan and Incentives Ordinance," which it said is one of its solutions in ridding the city of roadside parking, in line with the Department of Interior and Local Government's directive to clear all road obstructions. The local government said this is also a way to ease traffic congestion in the city's thoroughfares. "In order to sustain the efforts of the road clearing operation, incentives and reliefs will be given to property owners who will convert their vacant lots into parking areas," the ordinance read. "The necessity of parking regulation, conversion or construction of proper parking areas is of paramount importance and a solution in order to clear public roads of all illegally parked vehicles for the betterment and improvement of traffic throughout the city," it added. Private owners can charge those who will park their cars P50 for a maximum period of eight hours per day, and an additional P10 per excess hour. They can also charge those who will park their cars up to P1,500 per month. Some requirements needed to operate a pay parking facility include a business permit, an assigned watchman or caretaker of the area, enough lighting, signs stating the dos and don'ts of parking in that space, space for at least 10 light vehicles, a fence securing the perimeter, and a comfort room. The city government also said that the vacant lot must be exclusively used as a parking space only. Those who want to convert their vacant lots into parking spaces are also required to provide an area in their lots for the local government to plant trees as one of its ways to save the environment and prevent global warming. The parking and electrical layout of the vacant lot, ground preparation and excavation permit or the fencing permit, and certificate of final electrical inspection will have to be submitted for the approval of the Office of the Building Official, but there will be no payment of fees for these. Other incentives include the automatic granting of the locational clearance and the waiving of the building annual inspection fee. Private owners will be charged up to P1,500 for the annual mayor's or business permit fee, up to P250 for business tax, and up to P1250 for the annual ecological and waste management charges.