‘PARKING SHOULD ONLY BE P20 FOR FIRST THREE HOURS’

CEBU City Councilor Dave Tumulak asked motorists to report to his office the operators of pay-parking facilities, including malls, who collect a parking fee of more than P20 for the first three hours.

The councilor said the operators should comply with City Ordinance 2089, which sets the “standards for the operation of privately owned ‘off-street’ pay-parking areas in Cebu City.”

The ordinance, which was approved on Sept. 5, 2006, states that for a class A parking space, the area must be concrete, have comfort rooms and should be clean.

The operator can collect P20 for the first three hours and P5 per hour for the succeeding hours.

For class B, if not developed, the parking fee should be P10 for the first three hours and P5 per hour for the succeeding hours.

The operators must have a business permit, clearance from the Cebu City Traffic Office, comfort rooms and official receipts. If they violate the regulations, their permits will be revoked, according to Tumulak.

He said no one has been exempted from the ordinance.

“We have warned business establishments to stop overcharging and to follow our City Ordinance 2089,” Tumulak said. “If they will not follow, we will file a complaint against them.”

The councilor further said he had told private car owners to submit evidence of overcharging, including the receipts.

Tumulak said the violators of City Ordinance 2089 will face a fine ranging from P1,000 to P5,000, or imprisonment for six to 12 months.

Meanwhile, the City Government, whose parking operation was recently handed over to a private company, collects P20 per hour in areas declared as pay-parking zones, as prescribed in City Ordinance 2315.