Free parking for seniors nears passage

CEBU, Philippines — Exemption from paying parking fees imposed by business establishments, malls, hospitals, and clinics is nearing reality for Cebu City’s senior citizens after no one objected to the proposed measure during the public hearing yesterday.

The “Cebu City Senior Citizens Parking Exemption Ordinance 2023,” which aims to extend certain privileges to the city’s elderly, is authored by Councilor Rey Gealon.

Representatives of mall operators who were present during the public hearing expressed support for the proposed ordinance.

As proposed, “senior citizens who are bonafide residents of the City of Cebu are exempt from the payment of parking fees in parking areas of business establishments, malls, hospitals, clinics, or any other similar places, within the City of Cebu.”

Gealon said that to avail of this privilege, a senior citizen, who must be the passenger and/or driver of the vehicle, should present a valid ID issued by the City’s Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA).

The proposed measure, however, excludes overnight parking, valet parking, public street parking spaces, and areas or buildings devoted solely for parking and are not in any way connected with any business establishments.

In particular, Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, council presiding officer, expressed concern over possible abuse of the measure if ever overnight parking is included,

“It might be prone to abuse nga malibre ang overnight parking.  Magsalig na hinoon and mga senior nna mo-park,” he said.

Once the ordinance is approved, any commercial establishment that violates its provisions would be fined P1,500 for first offense; P2,000 for second offense; and P5,000 for each subsequent violation and/or one year of imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. — CNU Intern / RHM (FREEMAN)