THIS Christmas season, a Metro Manila congressman wants shopping mall owners to temporarily give up parking fee collections.

Pasig Representative Robert “DodotJaworski Jr. said this would be the best Christmas gift mall owners can give to millions of Filipinos for the holidays.

“We expect a number of shopping mall owners to exploit the holiday shopping rush by hiking the already unreasonable toll fess for the use of their parking spaces, Jaworski said in a statement on Wednesday.

“They should stop acting like Scrooge for a change and give back something to their loyal customers, he said.

But Jaworski quickly clarified he was not yet abandoning his bid for the passage of several bills he has filed seeking to declare illegal the collection of parking fees in malls, hospitals and other commercial establishments.

The lawmaker lamented that his bills have long been pending before the House committee on economic affairs.

“While Congress is scrutinizing the proposals, it would be advisable for the commercial establishments to be considerate by temporarily ceasing from demanding parking fees,Jaworski said.

The lawmaker maintained it should be a mandatory service for business establishments like shopping malls, hotels and hospitals to provide clients with free parking.