Motoring Today Column

Dec 14, 2016

Inquiries are mounting as to whether Aguirre Avenue and El Grande Street in BF Homes Parañaque have already been turned over by the subdivision's developers to the Parañaque City government, especially now that realty taxes are no longer being paid for them.

In an on camera interview on the TV show Motoring Today with a Parañaque City official earlier this year, it has been confirmed that they have been indeed long turned over.

Many even venture to say that most, if not all the streets of BF Homes Parañaque to include Elizalde Street would have been turned over to the city government in default as soon as the developers have stopped paying for the realty taxes. Otherwise, considering how long ago development had been done and with most of the lots of this once biggest subdivision in this part of the world have been sold, arrears of the developer for none payment of realty taxes for these streets would now amount to billions of pesos.

Further more, consulted legal minds regarding the issue have maintained that, "It's a no brainer to conclude that all roads that have been turned over to the government belong to the state and rightly so to be considered as public roads."

Now having said that, many residents and even business entrepreneurs who consider Parañaque City as potentially an ideal place to conduct business are saying, or I guess "complaining" would be the appropriate word to use, that the City Government is allowing some quarters to make life harder for them. I have been requested to voice out their minds with a further pleading for them not to named for obvious reasons, like security of their business or worse, their persons.

Many residents are still in a deep quandary why security guards assigned to the gate of Elizalde street (presumably also a public road as realty taxes are no longer paid for it) have been given instructions not to allow bona fide residents even those with documents like driver's license, ID cards with home addresses, etc. to prove their residency from exiting due to security concerns. They require car stickers, which need to be bought from their headquarters inside BF Homes.

Residents cannot fathom the issue of security when exiting. Making it difficult for anyone to just enter may perhaps be more logical. But exiting? For someone who's legally identifying him or herself as a resident wanting to exit to be considered a security risk is bordering on stupidity. No, it's not bordering-it's stupid. Anybody who's not a resident but was able to buy a car sticker is definitely more of a security risk.

But then perhaps it may not be stupid after all if you would consider what some residents have figured out as a "smart" reason for what appears to be a stupid move, that is if this were true, which I wouldn't want to think to be true but perhaps I have to mention here for a balance presentation.

Many residents are saying that with the current state of traffic in Phase 1 of BF Homes due to the presence of two large supermarkets, a big church, the subdivision's clubhouse, etc., all for residents' use and benefits, the only alternative route to take going out is through Elizalde Street. Therefore, according to many residents, Elizalde is a "cash cow" in selling stickers by allowing only vehicles with car stickers, residents or not, thru its gate. "Smart" indeed but a big disservice to bona fide residents of BF Homes. If this will be figured out by some lawyer, who's "smarter" than these guys are, they'll be in a situation they may not have thought they would ever be.

Now, Aguirre Avenue and El Grande are two of BF Homes' main thoroughfares. And they are now teeming with business establishments, mostly primarily aimed at providing products and services to BF Homes residents but are now of service to other communities in the peripheral areas. Many of these establishments are restaurants, some with specialized culinary offerings that are being sought by foodies from Alabang and some from as far as Makati. There are also quite a number of sports bars where many young residents of BF Homes patronize with many of their parents reportedly highly approving rather than having them to go other areas like Alabang, Makati or BGC. Whatever happens in BF Homes that would need the parents' immediate presence would not be as challenging as compared to being in other far away areas is the rationale of these approving parents.

If business development is ever a priority of the Parañaque City government, then the entrepreneurs of BF Homes are begging its officials to honor the Memorandum of Agreement that has previously allowed free access to these thoroughfares. According to them, improved business in BF Homes would redound to its lot owners, as realty prices would not be stopped from going up as more businesses are established.

Horrendous traffic gridlocks visibly happen at the gates due to this car sticker business to the disadvantage of tired work-torn residents who want to be home early to rest.

Admittedly, security of residents are ably provided by security guards of individual enclaves, which should really be the one that should implement the "no sticker, no entry" rule, which they already are-and very strictly indeed.

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