City receives measly share of towing fees

CEBU - The vehicle towing company that helps Cebu City government impound vehicles caught illegally parked in the city’s streets is earning about P1 million in towing fees every month —and the city only gets a 15-percent share of that amount.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña hired the services of Road Warriors Towing Services to intensify its campaign against the rampant illegal parking of vehicles, including the motorcycles, in different parts of the city.

The ordinance that allows the inclusion of the motorcycles to be impounded if these are found illegally parked in sidewalks obstructing the pedestrian lanes was implemented starting last November.

City Traffic Operations Management executive officer Arnel Tancinco said last November alone there were more than 800 assorted types of vehicles towed by the towing company.

If each of the owners of the impounded vehicles paid P1,500 it would mean that the Road Warriors had collected P1.2 million in only one month, and because the towing fees of heavy vehicles are much higher, the income could be greater.

But Connie Cañedo, a personnel of the Road Warriors Towing Services assigned with the Traffic Violations Bureau to collect the towing fees directly from the drivers, said the motorists are now aware of the existing ordinance against illegal parking.

“Kaniadto pagsugod g’yod pagpatuman sa ordinansa daghan kaayong sakyanan nga madakpan nga gipataka lang og parking, apan karon minus na lang. Nakabantay na sila ug nagmatngon nga dili ma-impound ang ilang sakyanan,” Cañedo said.

But still Cañedo said on an average day they tow away 25 to 30 motorcycles and cars. They work from Monday to Saturday.

Tancinco said he is in favor that the city stop hiring the services of the towing company and instead appropriate funds for the purchase of towing vehicles so the towing fees will go directly to the city’s coffers.

But councilor Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem, chairman of the council committee on transportation, said while he is in favor of buying a cargo truck with a lifter to be used to bring motorcycles, he is against the city’ purchasing a towing vehicle for cars.

“Kon para lang sa motor pabor ko kay barato ra man na, pero kadtong dako nga para sa vehicle towing ihatag lang tingali na sa private company kay gasto man sab kaayo ang maintenance ana,” he said.

Vice Mayor Michael Rama said the existing memorandum of agreement allows the private towing company to assist the city in the campaign against illegal parking should be reviewed, particularly on the sharing scheme. — Rene U. Borromeo/BRP (THE FREEMAN)