Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda is seeking for the exemption of senior citizens from paying parking fees.

Once approved, the councilor’s proposed ordinance will require all business establishments to grant a free parking privilege to all senior citizens of the city.

Taking cue from a legislative tracking and analysis report conducted by the Research Division of the sangguniang panlungsod where several findings, comments, and recommendations were given for consideration, Tabanda has proposed the amendment of Ordinance 08-2013, which requires the grant to senior citizens of at least 20 percent discount in parking fees.

Under the amendatory ordinance, all business establishments, whether operated by the government, barangay, or private entities, must grant a free parking privilege to all senior citizens.

Aside from presenting a valid senior citizen identification card, the following conditions in availing the free parking privilege will be added:

The senior citizen must be a resident of Baguio City; the senior citizen must be the one driving or is a passenger in the motor vehicle; Exemption from payment of parking fees shall apply only on the first three hours. On the fourth hour, the corresponding hourly rate shall already apply and be collected; and no fees shall be collected from the senior citizen in case of a flat rate policy.

The ordinance, once passed, will oblige all business establishments that collect parking fees to install necessary signages to inform the public of the free parking privilege that senior citizens are entitled to.

The ordinance further stipulates that complaints on violations of any of its provisions may be filed with the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs which will assist in the filing of the necessary charges.

Establishments found violating the ordinance will be fined P1,000 on first offense; P1,500 on second offense; and P2,000 on third offense.

The proposal was approved on first reading last week and was referred to the committee on laws, human rights, and justice.