A PROPOSED ordinance granting free parking to persons with disabilities (PWDs) and penalizing the use of fake PWD identification cards garnered strong support from various business establishments during a public hearing on Tuesday, July 29, 2025.
Mandaue City Councilor Carlo Pontico Fortuna, author of the measure, assured stakeholders their suggestions would be considered. Some businesses proposed extending the free parking period from three to five hours, or even removing the time limit entirely.
Fortuna emphasized the ordinance also aims to enhance PWD parking accessibility. He noted many existing slots are far from entrances, making access difficult.
“We are requesting establishments to relocate their PWD parking spaces closer to the entrance. Even if there is a designated slot, if it’s too far, it defeats its purpose. The shorter the walking distance, the better for those with physical limitations,” Fortuna said.
He also addressed concerns about ID misuse. Under the proposed ordinance, anyone caught using a falsified, borrowed, or fake PWD ID may be fined P5,000.
“This ordinance is meant to benefit genuine PWDs and should not be exploited,” he added.
The proposed measure, titled “An Ordinance Instituting a Parking Privilege to All Persons with Disability for the Use of a Parking Space and Facilities Located in the City,” mandates all public and private establishments in Mandaue City that collect parking fees to provide a three-hour free parking privilege to PWDs, regardless of whether they are drivers or passengers. This benefit extends to PWDs from outside the city with a valid ID. / CAV