NOV.

5, 2014

NR # 3641

Bill to regulate parking fees

A lawmaker has filed a bill regulating parking fees and imposing penalties against
exorbitant collection in malls, hospitals and schools.
Rep. Sherwin T. Gatchalian (1st District, Valenzuela City) said House Bill 5099 seeks to
protect consumers who avail of parking facilities offered by business operators from
unreasonable parking fees and rates.
The bill covers parking facilities for all kinds of motor vehicles, including parking spaces
in shopping malls, hospitals, schools or other similar establishments, including vacant lots and
buildings that are solely devoted for use as parking.
Gatchalian said shopping malls, hospitals, schools and similar establishments are
encouraged to provide parking spaces for their customers free of charge.
Under the bill, business establishments will impose parking fees for the use of their
parking spaces subject to rates.
The standard parking fee shall be P40.00 per vehicle for a maximum of eight hours and an
additional of P10.00 per succeeding hour.
For overnight parking, a customer shall be charged a one-time fee of P100.00 per vehicle.
On the other hand, a customer shall be given a grace period of 30 minutes wherein he shall
not be charged the standard parking fee if his motor vehicle shall have entered and exited the
premises within the grace period.
For shopping malls, restaurants, stores and similar establishments where customers go to
purchase items or where the customers pay fees to enjoy the services, facilities or amenities
offered by the establishment, the measure provides that the parking fee shall be waived once a
customer presents a validated proof of purchase of not less than P1,000.
The bill also requires that customers shall be issued receipt upon entering or exiting a
parking facility and that the parking receipt must contain the effective date and time and the plate
number of the motor vehicle the customer is paying for.
The measure imposes a fine of not less than P150,000 and imprisonment of not more than
three years to violators.
The key is to strike an equitable middle-ground that will afford customers the necessary
protections without hampering the ability of legitimate parking enterprises from conducting fair
and profitable business, Gatchalian said (30) mvip