(NI BERNARD TAGUINOD)

KINUWESTIYON ng isang consumer group ang napakamahal na valet parking fee na sinisingil ng ilang malls sa Metro Manila dahil umaabot umano ito sa P700 na hindi makatarungan sa mga shoppers na tumatangkilik sa kanilang establisyemento.

“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?” tanong ni Laban Konsyumer Inc. president Vic Dimagiba sa pagharap nito sa  House committee on trade and industry na pinamumunuan ni Valenzuela City First District Rep. Weslie Gatchalian,.

Nagsagawa ng pagdinig si Gatchalian sa mga panukalang batas para iregulate ang parking fee, hindi lamang sa mga malls, kundi sa mga restaurant, hospital at mga kahalintulad na establisyento upang ibalanse ang interes ng mga may-ari at mga consumers.

“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.

“We should note that these bills are proposing a ceiling rate,” dagdag pa ni Gatchalian dahil prerogatibo aniya ng mga mayt-ari ng mga malls ang pagsingil  ng parking fees dahil sa 2009 ruling ng  Supreme Court sa  ‘The Office of the Solicitor General vs. Ayala Land Inc. et. al..

Sa House Bill No. 3262, Parking Fees Regulation Act, na ihinain ni  Gatchalian, kailangan maprotektahan din aniya ang mga customer  na gumagamit sa mga parking ng mga business business operators dahil pataas na ito ng pataas habang tumatagal.

“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.
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,” ani Gatchalian.

Inatasan din ni Gatchalian ang Philippine National Police (PNP) na magsumite ng report hinggil sa mga insidente ng mga nakawan at pagkasira ng mga sasakyan sa mga parking fees subalit walang naging pananagutan ng mga operator.

Sinuportahan naman ng Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Philippine National Police (PNP) at mga  civil society organizations ang nasabing panukala.

Nais ng mambabatas, sa ilalim ng kanyang panukala, na maipako sa P40 ang parking fees sa loob ng 8 oras at karagdagang P10 kada oras at P100 kada sasakyan kapag overnight parking.

“For shopping malls, restaurants, stores and similar establishments where customers go to purchase items or where the customers pay fees to enjoy the services, facilities or amenities offered by the establishment, the parking fee shall be waived once a customer presents a validated proof of purchase or payment of not less than P1,000,” mungkahi pa ni Gatchalian kapag tatlong oras lang nagamit ang parking at kailangang mag-isyu ang mga ito ng resibo sa kanilang mga customer.

“The establishments shall be responsible for the safety of its patrons and shall be prohibited from invoking the waiver of liability in case of loss of property or damage to the customer’s motor vehicle,” dagdag pa nito.