METRO MAYORS APPROVE NEW TOWING, IMPOUNDING RULES

THE Metro Manila Council (MMC) on Thursday approved a regulation that revised guidelines concerning towing and impounding operations of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in the National Capital Region (NCR).

MMC and MMDA chair Romand Artes said the revised guidelines under MMDA Regulation 24-004 seek to professionalize and harmonize towing and impounding procedures of illegally parked and stalled vehicles in Metro Manila.

Artes said the revised guidelines are due to numerous complaints regarding the 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,” Artes said in a press conference on Thursday.

Based on the new regulation, vehicle owners  will have the option to have their vehicles transported to their homes, auto repair shops, or gasoline stations instead of being automatically impounded and brought to the Tumana impounding site in Marikina City.

“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,” he said.

The new guidelines shall apply to all towing services and trucks operating in Metro Manila, including those operated and/or owned by government agencies.

Under the guidelines, Metro Manila shall be subdivided into five sectors – North, East, West, South, and Central –with each area being served by only one towing service company that will be selected through a bidding process.

Also included in the regulation are tow trucks operated or owned by motor vehicle repair shops, business establishments, transport groups, public utility companies and private clubs, groups or associations.

Artes said all towing companies must be registered with the MMDA and follow documentary and vehicular requirements.

The new towing and impounding regulations wlll be implemented after it is officially published, said the MMDA chair.