No more towing for illegally parked vehicles – MMDA

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will no longer tow illegally parked vehicles starting today.

“We intend to avoid confrontations and incidents of corruption,” MMDA general manager Jojo Garcia told reporters in a press conference yesterday afternoon in Makati City. 

He made the announcement a few weeks after a Department of Justice prosecutor was caught on video trying to avoid paying a fine for illegal parking.

Garcia said traffic enforcers will leave citation tickets on the windshields of illegally parked vehicles.

He added that they will no longer observe the five-minute rule that they previously implemented before towing illegally parked vehicles.  

Vehicle owners face a fine of P500 for three traffic violations. The issuance of citation tickets can be done twice a day, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., for unattended illegally parked vehicles.

 Garcia said the MMDA’s towing trucks will now be used to clear obstructions along the designated alternate routes for motorists seeking to avoid EDSA.

Garcia warned motorists not to ignore the citation tickets – they will be unable to renew their vehicle registration with the Land Transportation Office.