TACLOBAN CITY – The City Government of Tacloban is set to enforce its newly revised towing ordinance this July to alleviate traffic congestion. Ordinance No. 2023-15-07 is an amendment to Chapter 7 of the city's Comprehensive Traffic Management Code (Ordinance 2000-01). The revised ordinance, which was enacted on March 23 and published in a local newspaper on June 30, will go into effect 15 days after its publication.
The primary objective of the ordinance is to alleviate traffic flow within Tacloban City by establishing a regulated towing system for damaged, abandoned, immobilized, illegally parked, or stalled motor vehicles. Section 4 of the amended ordinance empowers the Traffic Operations, Management, Enforcement, and Control Office (TOMECO) to implement the provisions.
TOMECO has the option to collaborate with various entities, including the Philippine National Police, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the City Engineer's Office, accredited Private Towing Companies, and even local barangay units.
Accredited tow trucks must adhere to specific color standards to ensure visibility and identification. City towing trucks, in particular, must be white, prominently displaying the seal or logo of Tacloban.
Violators of the towing ordinance will face penalties, including towing charges and storage fees. Towing penalties amount to 1,000 pesos per day, while the storage fee accrues on a daily basis as well. The tariff rates for towing services depend on the weight category of the vehicles being towed. Light vehicles, weighing less than 4,500 kilograms, will be charged 1,500 pesos for the first 4 kilometers. Medium vehicles, weighing between 4,500 kg and 7,500 kg, will incur a fee of 2,500 pesos, while heavy vehicles weighing 7501 kg and above will face a charge of 4,500 pesos.
Additionally, an extra charge of 200 pesos per kilometer will be applied for distances beyond the initial 4 kilometers from the place of towing to the impounding area.
Furthermore, if the impounded vehicle remains unredeemed within 10 days of receiving the violation ticket, it will be considered abandoned. In accordance with the law, abandoned vehicles will be subject to public auction proceedings.
With the forthcoming implementation of this towing ordinance, Tacloban City aims to improve traffic conditions by regulating the handling of vehicles that contribute to congestion. Motorists are advised to adhere to traffic laws and park their vehicles responsibly to avoid penalties and potential impoundments. —iTacloban (Source: CIO)