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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES "me Dae }
Quezon City ol
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Eighteenth Congress NE pry wwS
First Regular Session EXT

HOUSE BILL NO. 4621

Introduced by Representative Romulo “Kid” V. Peiia, Jr.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

It is the policy of the State to adopt an integrated and comprehensive
approach to health and development which shall endeavor to make essential
goods, health and other services available to the people at affordable costs.
However, we are faced with the sad reality that nowadays, patients seeking
healthcare in hospitals are not only burdened by the high costs of medicines,
hospitalization, and medical services, but are also weighed down by parking fees
that hospitals impose upon them for their use of designated hospital parking

spaces.

Instead of being able to save up for future medical expenses, patients and
their families end up shelling out more money to pay for these parking fees,

which, for several private hospitals, are even unreasonable and excessive.

To address these problems, this bill seeks to mandate hospitals to provide
free parking to patients and their families, subject to the limitation that each
patient and his/her family can only be entitled to one free parking space per day.
Violators shall be fined with not less than Ten thousand pesos (P 10,000.00) per
patient that is charged with a parking fee, or imprisonment of not less than six (6)
months but not more than one (1) year, or both, upon the discretion of the court.


‘These significant changes will hopefully result in real savings for the
patients and families who need it most during the toughest times.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly

sought.
ROMULO om JR.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

Eighteenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. peed

Introduced by Representative Romulo “Kid” V. Peiia, Jr.

AN ACT REQUIRING HOSPITALS TO WAIVE PARKING FEES FOR
THEIR PATIENTS AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES FOR VIOLATION
THEREOF

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Free Parking in
Hospitals Act."

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is a declared policy of the State to ensure and protect
the rights of patients to decent, humane and quality health care. This necessarily
entails that the State shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health
and development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social
services available to the people at affordable costs. Further, it is the policy of the State
to protect the interests and promote the general welfare of consumers. Toward this end,
the State shall promulgate measures that will protect consumers who avail of parking facilities
offered by hospitals from unreasonable parking rates and fees.


SEC. 3. Coverage of this Act. - This Act shall cover the use of established parking areas in
all hospitals by patients and their family members. Under this Act, "patient" is defined as a
person who avails himself or herself of health and medical care services or is otherwise the

subject of such services.

SEC. 4, Provision of Parking Spaces. — Hospitals are required to provide parking spaces
for patients and their family members free of charge, provided that each patient and his/her
family can only avail of one free parking slot per day.

SEC. 5. Prohibition on Invoking Waiver of Liability. — Hospitals shall maintain and
provide security in the parking spaces of their establishments. They shall be responsible for the
safety of the motor vehicles and shall be prohibited from invoking the waiver of liability in case
of loss of property or damage to the customer's motor vehicle.

‘The prohibition enunciated in the preceding paragraph shall likewise apply to operators of
buildings or vacant lots that are solely devoted for use as parking spaces for hospitals.

SEC. 6. Penalties. — Violators of the provisions of this Act shall be fined with not less than
‘Ten thousand pesos (P 10,000.00) per patient that is charged with a parking fee, or imprisonment
of not less than six (6) months but not more than one (1) year, or both, upon the discretion of
the court.

SEC. 7. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - The Secretary of ‘Trade and Industry
shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation of the

provisions of this Act.


SEC. 8 Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is held invalid or
unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions not Affected shall remain in full force and
effect.

SEC. 9. Repealing Clause. - Any laws, executive orders, presidential decrees or issuances,
letter of instruction, administrative orders, rules, and regulations contrary to or inconsistent with
the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.

SEC. 10. Effectivity Clause. -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,