Government officials and personnel are not covered by the free-parking privilege for senior citizens and persons with disability (PWDs).
The Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) made this clarification to prevent confusion on City Ordinance 8559 which exempts the elderlies and PWDs from paying the initial fees for parking their vehicles in specified places within the city.
MTPB chief Dennis Viaje also explained that the exemption does not cover overnight parking, for which the vehicle owner should pay the corresponding rates.
To avail of the parking fee exemption, the senior citizen concerned must present a valid senior identification card issued by the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs or any other government-issued identification cards.
On the other hand. the PWDs must present a PWD identification card issued by the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) upon entry in the establishments, malls, hospitals, parking areas or any other similar places charging parking fees and the ID holder or cardholder must be a passenger or driver of the vehicle.
Violation of the ordinance is punishable by imprisonment of one day to 30 days or a fine of P500 or both, at the discretion of the court.
The fine is bigger at P2,000 for managers, operators or owners of the establishments, malls, hospitals, parking areas that violate the ordinance.
Repetitive violations would be dealt with cancellation of the business permit on the parking space.
