House bill seeks to stop excessive parking fees

MANILA, Philippines — Parking fees should not be too much of an added burden to motorists, according to Valenzuela Rep. Weslie Gatchalian.

Gatchalian is pushing his bill that would regulate parking fees so that motorists would not be saddled with meteoric and unreasonable rates and fees.

“Nowadays, parking fees for a day’s worth of parking in Metro Manila can be as high as P700 or more, while there are others that charge significantly less,” he said in a statement on Monday.

Parking lot safety

“On top of paying excessive fees, consumers are oftentimes left with inadequate safety measures to protect their cars and their personal effects inside it. Operators generally impose a waiver of liability in case of loss or damage to property, leaving consumers vulnerable and unprotected,” he said.

According to Gatchalian, there should be a balance between allowing parking enterprises a reasonable return on their capital while adequately protecting consumer interests.

In his bill, Gatchalian proposed that shopping malls, hospitals, schools and other similar establishments, including vacant lots and buildings that are solely devoted for use as parking, should charge a standard fee of P40 per vehicle for a maximum of eight hours and an additional P10 for each succeeding hour.

For overnight parking, customers should be charged a one-time fee of P100 per vehicle, he said.

There should also be a 30-minute grace period where motorists would not be charged the standard parking fee if they enter and exit the premises within that time.

Waiver of fees

Gatchalian also proposed that for malls, restaurants, stores and similar establishments where people shop or pay fees to enjoy the services, facilities or amenities offered, the parking fee should be waived when customers present a validated proof of purchase or payment of not less than P1,000.

This should be on the condition that the customers used the parking space for a maximum of three hours, he said.

Gatchalian said the establishments and operators of buildings or lots used as parking spaces would be required to maintain and provide security in the parking spaces and would be prohibited from invoking the waiver of liability in case of loss of property or damage to customers’ motor vehicles.

He proposed that those who would violate the measure be fined not less than P150,000 per customer for collecting an overpriced parking fee, or imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than three years, or both, on the discretion of the court. —Leila lB. Salavereria