By Tracy Cabrera

GUADALUPE, Makati City — In a bid to professionalize towing services provided by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Metro Manila Council (MMC) has approved revisions in the MMDA’s rules and regulations on vehicle towing and impounding.

According to MMDA chairperson Atty. Romando Artes, the changes outlined in MMDA Regulation No. 24-004 are meant to upscale the agency’s 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,” Artes pointed out.

Under the new regulations, he announced, vehicle owners could have their vehicles towed to their houses, auto repair shops, or gasoline stations instead of being automatically impounded and brought to the MMDA’s Tumana Impounding Area on Silverdrop Street in Marikina City.

The MMDA’s legal and legislative affairs services reported that the agency has been receiving from 2022 to 2024 several complaints from motorists regarding illegal towing, overcharging, damages on their cars and motorcycles, improper and abusive misconduct by towing personnel and even theft.

The MMDA chief likewise disclosed that “towing procedures and towing rates will be clearly displayed (on) towing vehicles even as he added that there will be no increase in towing charges, but he ensured that if this (any future increase) happens, it will be reasonable.”

“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.

It shall also cover tow trucks operated or owned by motor vehicle repair shops, business establishments, transport groups, public utility companies and private clubs, groups, or associations,” he clarified.

In addition, for purposes of the towing guidelines, Metro Manila shall be subdivided into five sectors: North, East, West, South and Central with only one towing service company per sector, which will be selected through a bidding process.

Winning 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.