Catanduanes Rep. Joseph Santiago has filed a proposed measure banning the collection of parking fees by malls, hotels and other commercial establishments from their customers.

House Bill 1783 seeks to address the mounting complaints against the exorbitant parking fees being charged by malls, hotels and other commercial establishments.

Santiago noted that many establishments charge excessive parking fees even to their customers.

Aside from charging basic fees as soon as their customers use the parking spaces, Santiago said these establishments even charge fees per hour of use in excess of three hours.

“The income generated has been very substantial, that leasing out spaces has become a separate business apart from the main business offered by the owners,�? Santiago said.

Santiago maintained that providing parking spaces should already be part of the service the malls, hotels and other commercial establishments offer to their customers for patronizing their businesses.

“The construction and maintenance costs are already imputed into the overall cost of these establishments. Hence, these establishments should no longer charge for these spaces,�? Santiago said.