Mall customers and vehicle owners will have a reason to smile as Sen. JV Ejercito filed a Senate Bill No. 2044 that aims to regulate parking fees in commercial establishments such as shopping malls, hotels and other commercial establishments nationwide and at the same time hold them responsible for the safety of the parked vehicles.
Known as Parking Space Regulation Act of 2018, Ejercito wants the excessive charging parking fees by various shopping malls and commercial establishments be stopped. He explained, “Despite being loyal consumers and patrons, the public has to pay a fee for every hour that they spend inside the establishments,” on why he filed the bill.
However, the bill exempts those structures that are exclusively devoted to provide parking for vehicles.
“The cry from the public against the common practice of charging exorbitant parking fees by shopping malls and commercial establishments has been burdening a lot people. Something must be done here”, Ejercito
If the bill is enacted into law, no building permit will be issued to the construction of businesses and commercial establishments with parking spaces unless owners submit a sworn undertaking that adequate parking spaces will be made available to the public with appropriate fees.
Under the bill, the standard parking fee will be P40 for the first eight hours, with an additional P10 per succeeding hour. There will also be a P100 one-time fee for overnight parking per vehicle and a 30-minute grace period will be given to parkers.
Establishments have been imposing parking fees will also be responsible for the safety of the cars and will be prevented from invoking the waiver of liability in case of loss of or damage to a vehicle.
Owners of malls, hotels, and other similar businesses caught violating these may face a a fine of P100,000 per customer charged with an overpriced parking fee. The owners may also have their license to operate revoked.
The bill went through first reading on Oct. 3 and was referred to the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.
Back during the time of the late former Senate President Rene Cayetano, father of Alan Peter Cayetano, he filed a Resolution No. 579 and fought for the ban on collection of parking fees by shopping malls. The Senate Committee on Commerce and Industry jointly with the Justice and Human Rights Committee found the collection of parking fees, and the provisions of the waiver of liability, stated in parking tickets are illegal.
Asked whether this bill will prosper, Senator Ejercito said, “This must really be done as many people have expressed their strong opposition to the overcharging practice of the various establishments. Some have made purchases but are still asked to pay parking which they feel a “double whammy”.
THEPHILBIZNEWS tried to get the reaction of malls owners and the Philippine Retailers Association, but as of this posting, we have not received any response yet.
