Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista has signed into law an ordinance exempting all QC senior citizens from the payment of initial parking rates in city-based establishments charging parking fees.
To avail of the exemption, QC elderly residents must present their valid senior citizens identification cards upon entry in establishments, such as malls, hospitals, or any other similar places charging parking fees.
The privilege granted by the ordinance, however, shall not apply to overnight parking.
Mayor Bautista was joined by Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, Councilor Allan Benedict Reyes, who principally authored the ordinance, and officials of the QC office for senior citizens affairs (OSCA) during the signing of the measure, held at today’s (Monday, August 8) flag-raising ceremony at QC Hall.
Cashier or booth attendants violating the ordinance shall be penalized with a fine of P500 or an imprisonment of one day to 30 days or both at the discretion of the court, said Councilor Reyes.
The measure, approved by the 26-member city council on second reading on June 13, also carries a fine of P2,000 or an imprisonment of one day to 30 days to any operator or manager violating the ordinance.
Reiteration of infraction by the operator or owner shall result to the revocation of the business permit of the parking area or space concerned.
To date, there is a continuing effort from the QC government to expand the delivery of basic services among the city’s elderly residents in recognition to the vital role they play in the task of nation-building.
Quezon City has about 270,000 elderly residents, said OSCA head Lino Illera. Precy/ Ramir/ Maureen Quiñones, PAISO
