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Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILL No.__ 5762

Introduced by Representative Michelle M. Antonio

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Itis 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.

3 Ser

MICHELLE M. ANTONIO.


Seventeenth Congress
First Regular Session

HOUSE BILLNo,__ 5762

Introduced by Representative Michelle M. Antonio

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,