Here’s what you need to know about the House – approved parking fee regulation bill

MANILA, Philippines – An establishment with a safe and spacious parking area can be a driver’s dream, but a whopping fee upon leaving can be a nightmare.

Before adjourning its session last week, the lower chamber of Congress approved House Bill No. 7725 or the proposed “Parking Operations and Fees Regulation Act” which seeks to promote public safety and protect the general welfare of consumers availing of parking fees offered by business operators from unreasonable parking rates and fees.

To clarify, however, the measure is still not in effect as the Senate also needs to pass a counterpart measure before it can be ratified by both legislative chambers and submitted to the Office of the President for approval.

The approval of the House, nonetheless, means the measure is another step closer to becoming a law.

Here’s what you need to know about this measure:

* The proposed law covers all parking facilities of “covered establishments” such as accommodation establishments (hotels etc.), commercial establishments, food service establishments, health service establishments, retail establishments, and all similar establishments, whether government- or privately-owned. The measure also covers independent parking enterprises that charge parking fees.

* For accommodation establishments such as hotels, motels, inns, and resorts, parking fee shall not be charged against a customer, provided that there is proof of transaction with the establishments such as receipts. Non-customers shall be charged P20 per hour.

* For healthcare establishments such as hospitals, confined and out-patients shall be allowed to use the parking spaces available for free while non-patients, such as visitors, shall be charged P20 per hour.

* For retail establishments such as malls, shops, and supermarkets, parking fee shall be free for the first two hours, provided there is proof of transaction for an amount not less than P1,000. Non-customers shall be charged P20 per hour but shall not exceed P100 per day.

* For food establishments, parking fee shall be waived for the first two hours, after which P20 shall be charged per hour. Non-customers will also be charged P20 per hour.

* Open parking enterprises may charge P30 for the first three hours and P20 per succeeding hour, while multilevel parking enterprises may charge P40 for the first three hours and P20 per succeeding hour.

* Street parking shall be charged P50 per hour while the maximum overnight parking fee shall be P150 per vehicle.

* Lost parking tickets may also be charged a maximum of P150 per vehicle

Aside from regulating parking charges, the measure also proposes further protection for parking space users by mandating establishments with parking spaces to install CCTV cameras and have security guards.

The measure likewise proposes entrance and exit booth protocols to prevent traffic congestion.

Deputy Speaker and Valenzuela City Rep. Wes Gatchalian, one of the main proponents of the measure, said establishments shall be held accountable for loss of property or damage to a customer’s vehicle while in the parking space.

“On top of providing minimum standards, the proposed law will also hold establishment owners accountable for loss of property or damage to a customer’s motor vehicle while the said vehicle is inside their parking spaces by prohibiting them from invoking a waiver of liability,” Gatchalian said.

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