NCR mayors approve revised towing, impounding guidelines

MANILA: The Metro Manila Council (MMC) has revised the regulations concerning towing and impounding operations of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

Based on MMDA Regulation No. 24-004, the updated guidelines are eyed to professionalize and harmonize towing and impounding procedures of illegally-parked and stalled vehicles in the National Capital Region (NCR).

“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 Chair Romando Artes said.

Per the agency chief, one aspect of the regulation for stalled vehicles gives 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.

"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 noted.     

The guidelines shall apply to all towing services and trucks operating in the NCR, including those operated and/or owned by government agencies or instrumentalities. There shall only be one towing service company per sector to be selected through a bidding process.

For purposes of the towing guidelines, Metro Manila shall be subdivided into five sectors: North, East, West, South, and Central. It shall also include tow trucks operated or owned by motor vehicle repair shops, business establishments, transport groups, public utility companies and private clubs, groups or associations.

Winning towing service firms will be responsible in their respective areas of operations to remove any stalled and unattended illegally parked vehicle within the shortest time possible.

Per MMDA, 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) or provisionary authority.

Aside from that, all towing companies must be registered with the MMDA. Their trucks must be in excellent running condition and equipped with radios or cellular phones as well as global positioning system, dashboard cameras, and QR Code; schedule of towing rates posted on the tow truck; and a working speedometer.

Implementation

With the regulation yet to be published, the MMDA noted that it will conduct bidding for the awarding of services.

Based on a report from the MMDA Legal and Legislative Affairs Services, the agency received 105 complaints from 2022-2004, which covered improper towing procedures, allegations of overcharging, misconduct such as allegations of extortion, stealing, and damage to vehicles.

In other developments, Artes said that the MMDA is addressing the incidents involving individuals that reserve parking slots by standing in them.

According to him, city mayors have agreed to pass ordinances in their respective jurisdictions to prohibit and penalize standing in parking slots to reserve them for someone else.

Also read:

MMDA to start e-bike, e-trike prohibition on national roads next month

MMDA plans to set up more motorcycle lanes on major roads this year

Motorists can now pay for their MMDA traffic violation fines online