Senator Rafael “Raffy” Tulfo has filed a bill that seeks to grant senior citizens, people with disabilities (PWDs), and validated consumers free parking privileges in commercial establishments.

In filing Senate Bill (SB) 1920, Tulfo cited that modern economic and political development have introduced cultural and socioeconomic change to the country.

One such change is the emergence of pay parking industry that where once, a parking space in any part of the country, made readily available to the public free of charge, as part of the complimentary services offered by the establishment, he said.

“Today, the cost of parking has already become a daily expense we can longer ignore,” Tulfo explained.

The explanatory note of Tulfo’s bill states that the State seeks to adopt measures and establish a program whereby our citizens are assisted and appreciated by the country, in honor of their services and contribution to our society.

This program intends to grant senior citizens, people with disabilities, and validated consumers free parking privileges in commercial establishments.

Under SB 1920, availing parties, who must either be the driver or a passenger of the private vehicle, are advised to present SC/PWD cards upon entry in the area of the mentioned establishments.

Validated customers shall be required to present the validation stamp or sticker issued by the commercial establishment in order to avail of the free parking privilege.

This “free parking” benefit, however, does not apply to overnight parking.

Once signed into law, the measure states that any commercial establishment that violates the provisions of this Act shall be fined not less than P 10,000 but not more than  P100,000 for the first offense, and not less than P 50,000 but not more than P 500,000 for subsequent offenses. Repeat offenders may also face the revocation of their business permit.

Meanwhile, the commercial establishments that shall be exempt from the requirements of this proposed Act are establishments with less than 10 parking spaces; and establishments located in areas where parking is not readily available or is not under the control of the commercial establishment.

This would in some way offer the paying public in the Philippines a small break from the current wave of fuel, energy, commodity, and other price hikes that the average salary rate is unable to adequately cover, Tulfo pointed out.