Bill requires garage before car purchase

MANILA, Philippines - Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian wants prospective car buyers in Metro Manila to show proof that they have a garage before being allowed to purchase a vehicle.

In filing Bill 5098, Gatchalian said cars and other vehicles parked in the streets because the owners don’t have a garage or parking space contribute to traffic congestion in the metropolis.

“Motor vehicle owners should be made to provide a permanent parking space for their vehicles, whether this is an integral part of their house or building structure or a leased facility,” he said.

“The street is primarily intended for vehicle or foot traffic and should not be appropriated as a personal parking space. Any financially able purchaser of a motor vehicle can be presumed to be able to provide a parking facility for his vehicle,” he said.

Under the bill, any person who intends to buy a car should first execute an affidavit before a notary public attesting to the availability of a parking space for the vehicle.

The affidavit would be presented to the Land Transportation Office (LTO) as a prerequisite for car registration.

The document must be kept on file and produced when there exists a claim or evidence to the contrary that the parking space or facility does not exist.

The Metro Manila Development Authority and local government units would be required to conduct periodic inspections of streets to determine if there are illegally parked vehicles.

Penalties for violation include revocation of motor vehicle registration and a fine of P50,000 for the car owner. The owner would also not be allowed to register his vehicle.

Any LTO official or employee who allows the registration of a motor vehicle without a permanent parking space would face suspension for three months without pay.

The penalties would be in addition to those imposable under the Revised Penal Code for making a false statement under oath and falsification of a public document.