Parking fees on motor vehicles such as bicycles, motorcycles, and automobiles may finally be regulated as House Bill 7725 also known as the “Parking Operations and Fees Regulation Act” is in it’s third and final reading.

In essence, the bill simply seeks to protect motorists from unreasonable parking rates and fees implemented by operators of parking facilities, including malls, hotels, hospitals, and schools. The bill was filed by Congressman Michael Romero, Rodante Marcoleta, Wes Gatchalian, Rowena Nina Taduran, Alfred de los Santos, Enrico Pineda, and Yedda Marie K. Romualdez, among many others.

Under the bill, all education institutions, healthcare centers, and food and accommodation establishments must offer free parking spaces without charges. This is on the condition that the customer must present proof of a valid transaction with the respective facility so as to waive the parking fee. Meanwhile, corporate offices, street parking, and independent parking establishments may impose charges for the use of their parking spaces.

However, the maximum fees that corporate facilities may impose shall be P40 for the first four hours and P20 for every succeeding hour. Street parking operators can charge up to P50 per hour. Independent open parking enterprises may impose P30 for the first three hours and P20 per succeeding hour. And multilevel parking spaces can charge P40 for the first three hours and P20 for each succeeding hour. The maximum overnight parking fee in any covered establishment shall be P150. This is all in accordance with House Bill 7725 or the Parking Operations and Fees Regulation Act.

Moreover, the House Bill doesn’t only regulate parking fees. It also makes establishments responsible for any damages in case of theft or robbery in their parking areas. Once this bill is effective, operators can no longer avoid the responsibility which they always disacknowledge.

Violators of this bill shall be fined P100,000 to P300,000 for every customer charged beyond the maximum fees and may face suspension or cancellation of their business permits or licenses “upon the discretion of the court.”