Manila probes parking fee scam

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada yesterday ordered an investigation of the illegal collection of parking fees in the city.

Motorists have been complaining about the collection of parking fees ranging from P40 to P100 in Divisoria and Malate.

“The collectors of the parking fees are wearing blue and black t-shirts. They are collecting a flat rate of P100 per vehicle‎ as parking fee. They claimed that P50 goes to the barangay while the other P50 goes to city hall,“ one motorist said.

In Malate, particularly on Adriatico street, “parking boys” collect a flat rate of P40 per vehicle.

‎In Lawton, drivers who do not belong to the UV Express group of public utility vans plying the Sucat-Lawton route are reportedly required to pay barkers P80 per trip.

Sought for comment by The STAR, Estrada vowed to go after those behind the illegal collection of parking fees.

“This might be a handiwork of some erring traffic enforcers whom I removed from the MTPB (Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau). I will investigate that,“ Estrada said.‎ 

Parking in front of the city hall is free, he added.

The MTPB is headed by former councilor Dennis Alcoreza.