Joselito Malig

Cars park at a complex in Makati City. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

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Car Parking

Kaxandra Salonga

ABS-CBN News

MANILA (UPDATED) — Business owners and residents in Metro Manila flagged unauthorized parking attendants as a growing problem in commercial areas, where motorists are allegedly being extorted.A restaurant manager along Scout Madrinan Street, Tomas Morato in Quezon City said his customers have been complaining about being coerced into paying fees to unauthorized individuals, even when parking on public roads.“Actually, nagstart yun noong September 2024 everyday. And then, madalas kasi, sapilitan nilang sinisingil yung mga kustomer namin pag nagpaparking. Kahit dito sa parking slot namin, and then even dito sa may kalsada. Especially kapag umuulan,” he said.He explained that the so-called parking fees typically range between P50 and P150. Barangay Sacred Heart summoned the individuals to their office and barred five from operating near the restaurant, but the manager claimed he received threats shortly after.“Narinig kasi ng parking guard namin, kinagabihan na nagreport ako sa barangay regarding sa mga unathorized (parking attendants). Narinig niya, kasi ako lang naman nagreklamo noong time na yon. So nagsisigawan sila regarding nga doon sa pagbabanta sa akin na hahuntingin daw ako,” he said.The manager also recalled a separate incident in June, when one of their security guards was allegedly assaulted by an unauthorized parking attendant after being confronted.“Meron din kaming incident na yung parking guard namin is nasuntok noong unathorized parking attendant na naga-assist doon sa customer natin para mag-park. Nung sinita nung parking guard namin is bigla na lang siya sinuntok,” he added.A singer-composer who dined at a restaurant in Timog Avenue shared a similar experience.“Pumunta ako sa isang restaurant to eat dinner, tapos nagpark ako… pagbaba mo ng kotse, sisingilin ka agad ng P50… there’s always a feeling alam mo yun na pag di mo sila binayaran, baka may masamang mangyari sa kotse mo, or sa iyo or kung ano man pwedeng gawing masama sa property mo,” he said.<div>BARKERS AT WORK</div>Alias “Boy,” 25, admitted to working as an unauthorized parking attendant in the area for two years but denied intimidating motorists.“Pinakamataas po talaga isang daan po, pinakamababa singkwenta… sa isang araw po, nakaka P1300 po kami… sa gabi lang po kami nagpaparking kasi sa umaga wala masyado tao kaya 6-10 p.m. kami,” he said.Boy considers the work a necessity due to the low income he receives from his construction job.“Hindi sapat yung kinikita po namin sa construction kaya napipilitan po kami mag-parking na lang po.… wala naman po kami ginagawang masama, di naman po kami nagnanakaw… serbisyo lang po para bantayan namin yung saksayan,” he added.Barangay South Triangle Executive Officer Ervin Espedilla confirmed that their office had received multiple complaints and issued warnings to the individuals.“Sa loob ng isang buwan, may mga lima o sampung reklamo regarding doon sa paniningil ng overpricing P50 at P100… Hindi lang naman sa mga establishment, itong kahabaan ng Tomas Morato at Timog, rampant na po yung mga nago-overprice,” he said.<div>ORDINANCE OVER OPPORTUNISTS</div>Dexter Cardenas, Head of Traffic and Transport Management Department of Quezon City, said those collecting fees illegally could be liable for extortion.“Sa ngayon po, sa buong lungsod Quezon, wala po tayong ino-authorize na parking attendant para maningil sa ating mga kalsada… wag po tayo mag-transact everytime na magpapark po tayo sa ating mga lansangan. Ireport niyo lang po sa aming mga opisina,” said Cardenas.He said they plan accredit legitimate parking attendants to protect motorists along Timog and Tomas Morato avenue.“Pinag-aaralan po namin ngayon yung pagle-legalize ng ating mga parking attendant para magkaroon ng order doon sa lugar, na eto lang yung mga taong pwedeng mag-assist sa ating mga motorista aytime namagpapark po sila,” said Cardenas.In Manila, personnel from the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) collect a standard fee of P50 for the first eight hours, with an additional P10 charged for every succeeding hour.On August 1, police arrested a 39-year-old man in Tondo for impersonating an MTPB enforcer. He was caught wearing the bureau’s uniform while flagging down motorists.The city reminded the public to accept only untampered MTPB tickets. Mayor Isko warned that extortionists face a One Strike Policy and will be immediately terminated once a complaint is verified.Makati has also begun deploying legitimate parking aides to regulate street-side collection.

Business owners and residents in Metro Manila flagged unauthorized parking attendants as a growing problem in commercial areas, where motorists are allegedly being extorted.

Business owners and residents in Metro Manila flagged unauthorized parking attendants as a growing problem in commercial areas, where motorists are allegedly being extorted.

'Extortion': Metro Manila areas face complaints over excessive parking charges

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'Extortion': Metro Manila areas face complaints over excessive parking charges

Kaxandra Salonga,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 05, 2025 10:00 PM PHT

|

Updated Aug 06, 2025 12:01 AM PHT

Read More:

barker

extortion

parking

unauthorized

illegal

roads

Quezon City

South Triangle

Tomas Morato

Timog

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