Senator Win Gatchalian reiterated his call for the immediate passage of the bill which would require prospective vehicle owners to present proof that they have a parking space for the new vehicle.
Gatchalian, author of Senate Bill No. 201 (SBN), also known as the Proof-of-Parking Space Act, made the call as he threw his support behind the initiative of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to impose heftier fines on illegally parked vehicles. MMDA has recently raised the fine for attended illegally parked vehicles from the original P200 to P1,000. Drivers of unattended illegally parked vehicles, on the other hand, will now have to pay P2,000.
The legislator believes that the MMDA’s initiative to decongest the already crowded streets of Metro Manila will be greatly complemented by the enactment of the Proof-of-Parking Space Act.
“The MMDA’s move to impose higher penalties may now prompt motorists to think twice before parking their cars along the streets. However, I believe that we still need a law that will instill a culture of responsible vehicle ownership among Filipinos,” the lawmaker said.
“The MMDA’s move to impose higher penalties may now prompt motorists to think twice before parking their cars along the streets.”
“Isinusulong ng SBN 201 or Proof-of-Parking Space Act para maging responsible ang bawat may-ari ng sasakyan. Layunin ng batas na ito na siguraduhin na bago tayo bumili ng sasakyan ay dapat mayroon tayong sariling parking space,” the senator added.
Under the Proof-of-Parking Space Act, individuals and businesses based within Metro Manila would only be allowed to purchase vehicles after the execution of an affidavit confirming that they have acquired, either through purchase or lease, a parking space for the vehicle sought to be purchased.
According to LTO records, there were 10,410,814 registered motor vehicles from 2015 until 2017. Some 1,000 vehicles are registered each day. Of which, 600 are newly-purchased vehicles.
The bill also mandates the Land Transportation Office, the Metro Manila Development Authority, and local government units to conduct frequent ocular inspections of major and minor thoroughfares across the National Capital Region to remove illegally parked vehicles and to punish vehicle owners who refuse to comply with the law.
In October, the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship created a technical working group to further refine the provisions of the bill.
“With this bill, we hope to make the National Capital Region a more livable place by decongesting the roads of our nation’s capital, taking a modest step toward solving Manila’s perennial traffic crisis in the process,” Gatchalian said.
“With this bill, we hope to make the National Capital Region a more livable place by decongesting the roads.”
