House bill seeks free parking in malls

Shopping malls, hotels, restaurants, hospitals and similar establishments should provide free parking spaces to their customers instead of turning their parking areas into separate cash-earning businesses.

This is the gist of a bill filed by Pasig Rep. Robert Jaworski Jr. yesterday. The measure seeks to ban the collection of parking fees in establishments patronized by the general public and penalize violators.

In filing Bill 4217, Jaworski said thousands of Filipinos frequent shopping malls, department stores, hotels, restaurants and other commercial establishments to shop, dine, watch movies, play video games or stroll and relax.

"Parking spaces are one of the practical ways for these establishments to prop up their economic viability and business potentials. These parking spaces have become a veritable mode to entice or attract car owners to patronize these establishments," he said.

Thus, these businesses should provide their customers parking areas that are free of charge, he said.

He added that, in the past, malls, hotels, restaurants and hospitals had provided their customers with free parking spaces.

However, Jaworski noted most of these establishments have now made their parking areas into separate businesses, raking in millions in parking fees.

"The profits from parking fees are not just token but substantial," he said.

Under Bill 4217, malls, hotels, restaurants, hospitals and similar establishments would be compelled to provide free parking spaces to their customers.

Only buildings built exclusively for parking purposes would be allowed to collect fees.

According to the bill, no permit would be issued for the construction of a shopping mall, hotel, restaurant or similar establishment unless the owner submits a sworn statement that he or she would provide free parking spaces for customers, or that the building would be used solely for parking purposes.

Any establishment found collecting parking fees, other than a parking building, would be fined P50,000 to P100,000 for every violation.

Any government official or employee who issues a building permit without the required sworn statement from the owner would be suspended for a period of five to 15 days. — Jess Diaz