Sen. Tulfo wants free 3-hour parking for senior citizens, PWDs

It seems that parking fees in commercial establishments have caught the attention of lawmakers in the Philippines. Bills are being filed in the Senate that seek to regulate parking fees.

Free three-hour parking in commercial establishments filed by Senator Raffy Tulfo

Senator Raffy Tulfo is among the lawmakers that want to make changes to how commercial establishments charge consumers for parking. Tulfo filed Senate Bill (SB) No. 1920 or the Free Parking Act which aims to give senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and validated customers with free parking privileges in commercial establishments.

The bill defines commercial establishments as any retail store, shopping center, or small business that provides goods or services for sale to the public. Tulfo noted that the bill is intended to make the shopping experience more convenient and accessible. 

SB No. 1920 is seeking to grant free parking privileges for a maximum of three hours for senior citizens, PWDs, and validated customers. Overnight parking is not included in the Free Parking Act.  

Senior citizens and PWDs are required to present a valid ID issued by the government (senior citizen ID, PWD ID) to avail of the free three-hour parking. The senior citizen or the PWD could either be the driver or the passenger of a private vehicle.  

The bill aims to make shopping experience more convenient

Validated customers, on the other hand, must present proof of purchase of at least Php 500 or any amount that may be set by the implementing rules and regulations from the establishment to avail of the free three-hour parking. 

Once signed into law, the Free Parking Act states that a commercial establishment shall be fined not less than Php 10,000 but not more than Php 100,000 for the first offense. The subsequent offenses will net a fine of not less than Php 50,000 but not more than Php 500,000. Repeat offenders may face revocation of their business permits.

Exempted from SB No. 1920 are establishments with less than 10 parking slots and where parking is not readily available.

Meanwhile, Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. filed a similar bill that seeks to regulate parking fees in establishments. SB No. 1463 or the Parking Fee Regulation Act seeks to regulate parking fees in shopping malls, supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, wellness centers, trade exhibits, learning centers, hospitals, and other similar establishments or activities that sell products and services.    

Senator Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. filed a similar bill

The bill states that the parking fee should be Php 20 for the first three hours for all vehicles, and Php 5 per hour for the succeeding hours. Parking fees for motorcycles, on the other hand, is Php 10 for the first three hours, and P2 per hour for the succeeding hours. 

SB 1463 also states that individuals who spend at least Php 500 worth of single or accumulated receipts from the commercial establishment will get free parking for the first three hours.

Both Senate Bills are pending to be signed into law. 

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