KINUWESTIYON ng isang consumer advocacy group ang napakataas na valet parking rate na sinisingil ng mga parking operator at shopping mall.
“Why do they charge expensive rate for valet parking when we go to shopping malls? If the drivers or parking attendants receive wages, why is valet parking still expensive?” pahayag ni Laban Konsyumer Inc. president Vic Dimagiba sa House Committee on Trade and Industry.
Si Dimagiba ay isa sa resource persons na inimbitahan ng komite na pinamumunuan ni Valenzuela City First District Rep. Weslie Gatchalian upang ibahagi ang kanilang posisyon sa panukalang i-regulate ang parking fees.
“We invited our friends from the industry to give them another chance to enlighten us with their position on the proposed regulation of parking fees. We want to hear their side on the matter so we can arrive at a win-win parking rate that will give property owners a fair return on their investment while at the same time charging consumers a fair fee,” ani Gatchalian.
Tinalakay ng komite ang iba’t ibang bills na inihain ng mga miyembro ng 18th Congress na naglalayong balansehin ang interes ng parking operators at ng consumers.
“We should note that these bills are proposing a ceiling rate. This means that the prerogative to charge parking fees or offer these for free remain with the establishment consistent with the 2009 ruling of the Supreme Court in ‘The Office of the Solicitor General vs. Ayala Land Inc. et. al.’ which affirmed the right of establishments to charge parking fees,” ani Gatchalian.
Isa sa bills na ito ay ang House Bill No. 3262, o ang Parking Fees Regulation Act na inihain ni Gatchalian para protektahan ang mga customer na mag-a-avail ng parking facilities na iniaalok ng business operators mula sa hindi makatuwirang parking rates at fees.
Ayon kay Gatchalian, kasunod ng desisyon ng Supreme Court na kumakatig sa karapatan ng mga may-ari ng malls na pagbayarin ang mga taong gumagamit ng kanilang parking facilities, “we have seen a meteoric rise in the fees charged by these operators”.
“Nowadays, parking fees for a day’s worth of parking in Metro Manila can be as high as P700 or more, while there are others that charge significantly less,” aniya.
“On top of paying excessive fees, consumers are oftentimes left with inadequate safety measures to protect their cars and their personal effects inside it. Operators generally impose a waiver of liability in case of loss or damage to property, leaving consumers vulnerable and unprotected,” dagdag pa niya.
Sa ilalim ng HB 3262, ang mga establisimiyento tulad ng shopping malls, hospitals, schools at iba pang katulad na establisimiyento, kabilang ang vacant lots at buildings na ginagamit lamang para sa parking ay dapat maningil ng standard parking fee na P40 per vehicle para sa maximum na 8 hours at karagdagang P10 per succeeding hour.
“For overnight parking, a customer shall be charged a one-time fee of P100 per vehicle. The customer shall be given a grace period of 30 minutes, wherein he shall not be charged the standard parking fee if his motor vehicle shall have entered and exited the premises within the grace period,” nakasaad pa sa panukalang batas.
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