JV wants to regulate parking fees

SEN. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito wants to regulate the imposition of parking fees in shopping malls, hotels, and similar business or commercial establishments.

- ate Bill 2044 to address “resounding” complaints from the public against the prevalent practice of charging parking fees by shopping malls and commercial establishments.

“Despite being loyal consumers and patrons, the public have to pay a fee for every hour that they spend inside the establishments,” said Ejercito.

Under the bill, the standard parking fee “should be P40 per vehicle for the maximum parking of eight hours and an additional P10 per succeeding hour of parking.”

SB 2044 also states that there should be a one-time fee of P100 for overnight parking.

He noted that under Article II of RA 7394 or the Consumer Act of the Philippines, “it is the policy of the State to protect the interest of the consumers, promote the general welfare and establish standards of conduct for business and industry.”

“Owners of malls and commercial establishments should give consideration to the buying public,” said Ejercito, chairman of the Senate Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement.

The provision of parking facilities for all kinds of vehicles is mandated under the National Building Code.

However, there is no law regulating parking fees.

“This bill seeks to provide regulating mechanism and rational basis for the determination of reasonable parking fees that may be imposed to the public,” Ejercito said.