The Metro Manila Council (MMC) approved a regulation that introduces revised guidelines concerning towing and impounding operations of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in Metro Manila.
The revised guidelines, contained in MMDA Regulation No. 24-004, are pursuant to the objective of professionalizing and harmonizing towing and impounding procedures of illegally-parked and stalled vehicles in Metro Manila.
“We want to professionalize the towing services due to numerous complaints regarding practices of towing operators. The revised guidelines aim to streamline the towing process, enhance the regulation on towing and impounding of illegally-parked and stalled vehicles, ensuring that they are conducted fairly and transparently while protecting the rights of vehicle owners,” MMDA Chairman Don Artes said during a press briefing after the MMC meeting.
According to Artes, one aspect of the regulation for stalled vehicles give vehicle owners the option to transport their vehicles to their homes, auto repair shops or gasoline stations instead of being automatically impounded and brought to the Tumana impounding site in Marikina City.
“There will be no increase in towing charges, but we ensure that it will be reasonable.”
“Towing procedures and towing rates must be clearly displayed at towing vehicles. There will be no increase in towing charges, but we ensure that it will be reasonable,” the MMDA chief explained.
The guidelines shall apply to all towing services and trucks operating in Metro Manila including those operated and/or owned by government agencies or instrumentalities. There shall only be one (1) towing service company per sector which will be selected through a bidding process.
For purposes of the towing guidelines, Metro Manila shall be subdivided into five (5) sectors: North, East, West, South, and Central. It shall also include, among others, tow trucks operated or owned by motor vehicle repair shops, business establishments, transport groups, public utility companies and private clubs, groups or associations.
Towing service companies shall have the sole responsibility in their respective areas of operations to remove any stalled and/or unattended illegally parked vehicle within the shortest time possible.
The guidelines are intended to improve the services of the towing operators to vehicle owners that are transparent, accountable and organized.
New documentary requirements include Certificate of Completion issued by the MMDA for following training courses for every tow truck personnel: Basic Traffic Rules and Regulations; Basic Road Safety and Troubleshooting; and Land Transportation, Franchising, and Regulatory Board Franchise (yellow plate)/provisionary authority.
All towing companies must be registered with the MMDA. Tow trucks of the winning towing service companies must be in excellent running condition and must be equipped with radios and/or cell phones, and all the other required devices, including Global Positioning System (GPS), dash cam, and QR Code; schedule of towing rates posted on the tow truck; and a working speedometer.
As to the implementation, Artes said the regulation has yet to be published. Moreover, the agency will conduct bidding for towing service companies. Information drive will be launched as part of the initiative.
The MMDA Legal and Legislative Affairs Services reported that the agency received 105 complaints from 2022-2004. Complaints have included improper towing procedures, allegations of overcharging, misconduct such as allegations of extortion, stealing, and damage in vehicles. These issues have raised concerns to the agency.
“The MMDA is addressing the incidents where individuals are reserving parking slots by standing in them in response to growing concerns.”
Meanwhile, Artes declared that the MMDA is addressing the incidents where individuals are reserving parking slots by standing in them in response to growing concerns.
To avoid these kinds of practices, he said the Metro Manila mayors have agreed to pass ordinances in their respective jurisdictions to prohibit and penalize standing in parking slots to reserve them for someone else.
