Sen. Bong Revilla proposes standardized parking fees nationwide

Senator Bong Revilla looks set to take on a new foe, but not on the small screen.

The legislator, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Public Works, announced in a November 2022 press statement that he has filed a bill to regulate parking fees nationwide.

Senate Bill No. 1463 or the "Parking Fee Regulation Act," will set standardized parking rates in malls, supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, schools, and parking facilities, among other places that collect parking fees.

The amounts will be set to:

• ₱ 20 for the first 3 hours + PhP 5 per succeeding hour for all types of cars

• ₱ 10 for the first 3 hours + PhP 2 per succeeding hour for motorcycles

• ₱ 100 flat rate for overnight parking for all types of cars

• ₱ 50 flat rate for overnight parking for motorcycles

• ₱ 100 flat rate for valet service, on top of the regular parking fee

• ₱ 100 for a lost or damaged parking ticket, in addition to parking fees 

• ₱ 200 for a lost or damaged parking card, in addition to parking fees 

The bill also mandates a 15-minute grace period for pass-through customers who will be allowed to park for free.

It also proposes free parking for the first three hours for customers who spend at least ₱ 500 in the establishment.

Revilla said the measure was a result of “public clamor,” along with the need to protect motorists from exorbitant parking fees.

“Minsan, kakarampot na lang ang kinikita ng ating mga kababayan, tapos mababawasan pa ito nang malaki dahil sa sobrang mahal na parking fees sa kanilang mga pinagtatrabahuhan,” he said.

[Translation: Sometimes, our workers earn small wages, which would then be slashed heavily because of the overly expensive parking fees in their workplace.]

“O kaya naman na halip na maidagdag nila sa kanilang pang-grocery, eh napupunta pa sa mahal na parking fee sa pamilihan o mall,” Revilla added.

[Translation: Or instead of their money being added to their grocery fund, it goes to expensive parking fees in markets or malls.]

This wasn't the first bill about parking

The House of Representatives approved on June 2021 its own version of a bill to standardize parking fees.

House Bill No. 7725 or the “Parking Operations and Fees Regulation Act,” not only sought to impose set parking rates, but also made operators of parking facilities liable for any damage or loss to parked cars.

However, no final law on this was finished under the 18th Congress, which Revilla lamented.

“Sa totoo lang, matagal na dapat naisabatas ito,” he said. “Kaya ngayon ay talagang itutulak natin ang pagpasa nito sa Kongreso, lalo na’t malaking kabawasan ito sa gastusin ng ordinaryong mamamayan.”

[Translation: In reality, this should have been made into law a long time ago. That’s why now, we will really push for this to be passed in Congress, especially since this would be  a big reduction in the expenses of ordinary people.]

Do you think standardizing parking fees will be a big help to motorists?