Impounding area sought

CEBU, Philippines – Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes was asked to designate an impounding area for City of Talisay-Traffic Operation Development Authority as it intensifies its drive against illegally parked vehicles in roads and sidewalks, including those in barangay access roads.

In his proposed resolution No. 2014-42-10, City Councilor Danilo Caballero, chairman of the Committee on Peace and Order, said that as provided in the Local Government Code, the utilization of city government spaces shall be provided by a city ordinance.

He said Section 130 of the traffic code provides that all types of vehicles not in accord to the designated parking area shall be subject for clamping or towing to be safely placed and secured in the impounding area to be designated  by the CT-TODA.

The owner or the operator of the impounded vehicle shall be charged towing fee of P500 and in case the owner/operator does not claim said vehicle within 24 hours after it was delivered to the designated impounding area, he shall be further charged at the rate of P100 a day.

"I am filing a resolution asking the mayor to designate an impounding area for the CT-TODA, subject to the approval of the City Council," Caballero said.

The councilor is already asking the mayor to purchase one towing truck for the CT-TODA to regulate unlawful parking and stopping on some parts of city streets.

Caballero said the purchase of towing truck is already included in the Annual Investment Plan for 2014 approved by the City Development Council under Resolution No. 2013-05 on December 6, 2013.

The designated tow-away zones are the whole stretch of the South Reclamation Area and the Cebu South Coastal Road, from the boundary of Cebu City to N. Bacalso Avenue junction in Barangays Linao and Lawaan, the Gaisano-Tabunok Street to Rabaya Street and the national road from Tabunok flyover to Barangay Lagtang.

For towed vehicles, the drivers or owners shall pay first to the city treasurer the penalty of P1,500 for light vehicles (with engine displacement of 1600cc and below), P2,500 for medium vehicles (1601cc to 2800cc) and P3,000 for heavy vehicles (2801cc and above).

Seventy percent of the fines collected from violators of the ordinance will go to the Talisay City Traffic Commission while the rest goes to the city's coffers.