Drivers and operators of public-utility vehicles (PUVs) have sought the help of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development to look into the alleged unwarranted increase in fees imposed by the new parking operator of transport terminals in Metro Manila.
House Committee on Metro Manila Development Chairman
Rep. Manuel Luis Lopez said his committee received a letter-complaint from various transport groups headed by Pasang Masda on the alleged unwarranted increased fees imposed by Park Solutions Inc., (PSI) the new operator of SM Parking terminals.
“According to these transport groups, they are being charged exorbitant fees by PSI by way of imposition of monthly accreditation fees, daily entry and exit fees, as well as QR code fees, among others,” said Lopez following a committee hearing last Wednesday.
He said the transport groups claimed the new charging scheme is much higher than the charges imposed by the old SM parking terminal operator and that the increase in fees has caused them to incur so much losses.
During the hearing, Atty. Omar Mayo, counsel for Pasang Masda said PSI is charging a P1,000 monthly accreditation fee per vehicle aside from P30 to P50 daily dispatch fee and P150 one-time fee for a RFID sticker.
But Lopez said PSI, upon the order of the House panel, submitted a position paper dated June 30, 2021 refuting the claims.
“PSI, in a gist, claimed that the new charges being imposed are reasonable and only necessary to properly maintain and improve the managed SM public transport terminals,” he said.
Lopez said is that the main issue is the dispute between the transport groups and the PSI, and that if left unresolved, would eventually end up affecting the riding public as they ultimately would be the ones to be inconvenienced and bear the burden of the said disputes.
He said the goal of the committee is to find a solution to resolve the dispute whether through an appropriate resolution, measure or proposed law, if necessary, in order to harmonize the interest of all stakeholders especially those of the commuters and the riding public.
After hearing the statements from both the transport groups and the PSI, the panel and opposing parties reached a compromise, which is to maintain the status quo until July 28, 2021 when the committee would meet for the second round of talks.
PSI Chief Operating Officer Atty. Peter Reig said PSI took over the operation of the SM mall parkings last November 16, 2020. He also said 12 of the 15 associations using the SM North Edsa parking terminal agreed with their new terms.
Reig also said their dispatch fee and accreditation fee are within “reasonable rates.”