Parking fee collection in Lawton hit

An association of drivers and operators plying the Manila-Cavite route yesterday questioned the unauthorized collection of parking fees at the Liwasang Bonifacio terminal in Lawton, Manila.

Several members, who requested anonymity, revealed that despite the order of Manila Mayor Lito Atienza to stop the collection of parking fees, some unscrupulous barangay and association officials are circumventing the order.

According to the disgruntled drivers and operators, a P100 parking fee is being collected from them at the Cavite terminal as payment for the use of Liwasang Bonifacio terminal.

"They make it appear that there is no parking fees at the Liwasan, but payments were collected at our terminal in Cavite. This is plain robbery," said a driver.

They said they cannot refuse paying the fees since they will not be allowed to ferry passengers to Manila. They are also asking who authorized the collection and to whom the collections were remitted.

Aside from the P100 parking fees collected at the Cavite terminal, the drivers pay P50 per trip to barangay officials in Liwasang Bonifacio headed by Ligaya Santos, barangay chairman of 659-A, Zone 71, of Arroceros street, Manila.

A separate fee of P50 was also collected from each driver at the Cavite terminal and P30 for their succeeding trips.

Atienza entrusted the administration of the terminal at the Liwasang Bonifacio to Santos, following reports of an anomalous collection of parking fees by certain city hall officials who are reportedly in cahoots with some drivers and operators associations.

Earning P420 on a single trip for a 14 passenger-load, the drivers lament that they only get an average of P200 per trip minus the fees paid at the two terminals as well as the gasoline and toll expenses. – Nestor Etolle