THE HOUSE of Representatives on Tuesday unanimously approved on third and final reading a bill that seeks to regulate parking fees and standards.
The measure, passed by 253 congressmen who mostly voted online, will regulate parking rates while still giving parking operators a fair return on their investments, lawmakers said.
The bill also sets standards for all government-owned and privately owned covered and open area parking establishments.
The proposed law will apply to all types of vehicles as well as bicycles and motorcycles.
“I am glad that the bill is one step closer to becoming a law despite some misgivings of the owners of retail and commercial establishments and independent parking operators,” Deputy Speaker for Trade Weslie T. Gatchalian said in a statement on Wednesday.
Under the measure, confined and out-patients may use hospital parking facilities for free. Visitors will be charged P20 per hour.
The bill also proposes free parking for customers in hotels, motels, hostels, inns and resorts, as long as they can present proof of their transactions. Non-customers will be charged P20 per hour.
Parking fees at restaurants will be free for the first two hours for customers, who will then be charged P20 per hour for the succeeding hours. Non-customers will also be charged P20 per hour. Parking at malls, supermarkets and other retail shops will be free for customers for the first two hours as long as they can present proof transactions worth at least P1,000. Non-customers will be charged P20 an hour and as much as P100 a day.
Meanwhile, open parking areas may charge P30 for the first three hours and P20 per succeeding hour, while multilevel parking enterprises may charge P40 for the first three hours and P20 per succeeding hour. The rates for both parking spaces must not exceed P100 a day.
Street parking will be charged P50 per hour, while overnight parking and lost parking ticket fees must not exceed P150 per vehicle.
The bill will also order parking businesses to observe safety standards by installing CCTV cameras and employing security guards. — Bianca Angelica D. Añago