MANILA, (PNA) — A Metro Manila lawmaker has filed a bill prohibiting the collection of parking fees in malls, hotels and other public areas.
Rep. Marcelino Teodoro (1st District, Marikina City) authored House Bill 456 as he criticized the exorbitant parking fees being charged by shopping malls, hotels and similar establishments on customers who use their parking spaces.
Teodoro said parking spaces are one of the practical ways for establishments to prop up their economic viability and potentials.
One of the problems, however, Teodoro said, is the proliferation of park-for-a-fee spaces allotted by these commercial establishments to collect parking fees from customers who use these parking spaces.
“It has been observed that malls, hotels and similar establishments have been charging fees and they still charge additional parking fees by the hour after three hours lapse,” according to Teodoro.
“The fact that the commercial centers and shopping mall managements always deny responsibility for the loss of any vehicle or any personal property left inside the car even if it occurred inside their guarded parking areas is a glaring example of customers being short-changed,” Teodoro said.
Teodoro said it is about time they stop acting like scrooges and for a change give something back to their loyal customers.
Under House Bill 456, owners of shopping malls, hotels and similar business and commercial establishments are prohibited from imposing, exacting, collecting or charging any fees for the use of parking spaces located within these establishments.
The measure provides that no building permit shall be issued for the construction of business and commercial establishments that include parking spaces and facilities, buildings and other facilities for parking purposes unless the owner submits an affidavit that parking spaces and facilities shall be made available to their patrons/customers free of charge.
The bill also provides a penalty of imprisonment of not more than five years and a fine of not more than P500,000 to violators.