Congressmen batting for a ban on pay vehicle parking at shopping malls, hospitals and other similar commercial establishments yesterday demanded the conduct of continuous hearings on a number of legislative proposals on the issue.

Led by Representatives Faysah RPM Dumarpa, Marcelino Teodoro and Manuel Zamora, House members also asked owners of shopping malls and private hospitals to explain why they collect carpark fees from customers when others, such as Robinsons malls in Cainta and Fairview, do not.

Dumarpa noted while the SM-Fairview mall provides its customers with ample free parking, all other SM estbalishments have been collecting almost restrictive fees.

The woman lawmaker also complained the technical working group assigned to consolidate the seven separate bills on the ban against parking fees had sat on the proposals.

Before attending a congressional hearing on the bills, Teodoro said legislative proposals banning pay parking in malls have been pending for a long time now but yesterday was the first time a hearing was called on the issue.

A number of mall and hospital owners sent representatives to the hearing conducted by the committee on trade and industry headed by Palawan Rep. Antonio Alvarez.

They insisted that collection of parking fees has become mandatory to help them recoup expenses in the construction of carpark buildings.

Dumapra and Teodoro rejected the explanation even as they pointed out that mall owners should accept the burden of providing free parking in exchange for the profit they get from the patronage of their customers.

Citing a Senate study on the exaction of parking fees by shopping malls, Teodoro said it was found that “the collection of such fees and the provisions of the waiver of liability stated in parking tickets are illegal.�?

“In the interest of upholding the rights of consumers, centers of leisure and other related activities should provide free parking spaces and amenities to their patrons,�? he explained.

On the other hand, Dumarpa said commercial establishments should not shirk in their responsibility to provide convenient parking spaces where their customers can safely park their vehicles while shopping.

In pushing the approval of his bill, Zamora said parking rates have become exorbitant yet mall owners refuse to take responsibility for the safety of vehicles deposited in paid carparks.