In response to public clamor, Senator Ramon ‘’Bong’’ Revilla Jr. has filed a bill regulating parking fees in commercial and business establishments, institutions, and parking facilities.

“Ilang taon nang nakabinbin sa kongreso ang panukalang batas na i-regulate ang bayad sa parking spaces katulad ng sa mga mall, mga kainan, at ibang pang lugar (This bill regulating parking fees in parking spaces in malls, eateries and other places has been hibernating in Congress). Sa totoo lang, kung tutuusin, matagal na dapat naisabatas ito (This should now be passed into law). Kaya ngayon ay talagang itutulak natin ang pagpasa nito sa kongreso lalo na’t malaking kabawasan ito sa gastusin ng ordinaryong mamamayan (We will have this passed by Congress because it would be a welcome reduction to ordinary citizens’ expenses),” Revilla said.

Senate Bill1463 fixes parking rates in malls, supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, schools, and dedicated parking facilities, among others. These amount to as follows:

• P20 for first 3 hours + P5/succeeding hour for all types of cars;

• P10 for first 3 hours + P2/succeeding hour for motorcycles;

- P100 flat rate for overnight parking for all types of cars;

• P50 flat rate for overnight parking for motorcycles;

• P100 flat rate for valet service, in addition to the regular parking fee;

• P100 in addition to parking fees for lost or damaged parking ticket; and

• P200 in addition to parking fees for lost or damaged parking card.

The bill also mandates a grace period of fifteen minutes for pass-through customers who will be allowed to park for free, and likewise provides free parking for the first three hours for customers who spend at least five hundred pesos in the establishment.

“Habang nirerespeto natin ang mga negosyo na tumutulong sa pagpapalago ng ating ekonomiya, kailangan din nating balansehin at protektahan ang interest ng nakakarami (While we respect businesses that propels the economy, we should balance it by protecting the interests of the majority). Kaya dapat lamang na i-regulate natin ang parking fees na minsan ay hindi na nagiging makatarungan (That is why we have to regulate parking fees because there are times they are not acceptable),” Revilla explained.

Some parking facilities and office parking spaces in the country, especially in central business districts, charge exorbitant fees that could go as high as P400 for 8 hours, which is already a huge portion of the daily wage of workers availing the parking space.

“Minsan, kakarampot na lang ang kinikita ng ating mga kababayan (There are times the salaries of our countrymen are small). Tapos mababawasan pa ito ng malaki dahil sa sobrang mahal na parking fees sa kanilang mga pinagtatrabahuhan (And these are reduced because of exorbitant parking fees in areas where they work). O kaya naman na halip na maidagdag nila sa kanilang pang-grocery e napupunta pa sa mahal na parking fee sa pamilihan o mall (There grocery expenses are slashed by big parking fees). Kaya dapat talaga ay ipasa na natin ang batas na ito upang matulungan natin ang mga consumer (We need to pass this bill to help the consumers),” Revilla said.