Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – The average cost to purchase a brand new car in the Philippines is 800,000 Pesos (approximately $18,000). Now, if a new bill in Congress is passed, it would cost the car buyer more than double that amount.

The reason?  No one will be allowed to buy a new car if there is no space to park it.

House Bill No. 5098 or The Proof of Parking Space Act, which was filed by Valenzuela City Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian, requires buyers of brand new cars “to execute an affidavit indicating the availability of existing parking space for the vehicle to be bought.”

The proposal is aimed at preventing cars from being indiscriminately parked in streets which is one of the factors that contribute to Metro Manila’s nightmarish traffic problem.

In anticipation of the bill’s passage, Toyota Motors which sells the most number of new cars in the Philippines, has  come up with a new buyers’ program whereby the cost of a new vehicle already includes a guaranteed parking space at the buyer’s choice of location. It’s a two for one deal that would start at 1.5 Million Pesos, depending on the car model chosen.

So, Toyota is not only in the car business. It is now also a real estate agent.

Another proof that ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines!’