The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has announced its initiative to reassess all its accredited towing companies after the Facebook post about the towing scam went viral, newsinfo.inquirer.net reported.
Photo credit: Trix Lareza – Clasara
According to the report, the MMDA Chair Emerson Carlos has confirmed to revalidate the list of towing companies to ensure they are complying with the proper towing procedure. Furthermore, the agency has accredited 30 towing firms operating 72 tow trucks in Metro Manila, as of May 2015.
However, after the alleged scam went viral, the MMDA has decided to suspend Arcson Towing Services, which happened to be on the list of the accredited towing services.
In verbatim, here’s the statement MMDA posted on their Facebook page last week:
This is in response to the Facebook post of Trix Lareza-Clasara in behalf of her sister, Kristen Ann Uy de Baron, which narrated an alleged illegal towing scam involving Arcson Towing Services at Savemore Broadway, yesterday, May 23, at around 11 a.m.
Pending the result of the agency’s probe into the complaint, MMDA Chairman Emerson S. Carlos has already ordered the indefinite suspension of ALL Arcson tow trucks, including tow truck with plate number AVA 4494, the one used in the alleged scam.
With the suspension, no tow trucks from Arcson Towing Services will be dispatched for operations starting today, May 24, 2016.
Rest assured the MMDA is continuously pursuing good governance in all of its endeavors, including cleansing its ranks of unscrupulous individuals.
The reason behind the suspension
As narrated by the victim, the incident happened last May 23, 2016, at around 11:30 AM outside Savemore Broadway. As stated in the post the “unknown MMDA officers” talked to their “boss” and informed her sister that the penalty costs P4k. Trix’s sister called her husband and explained what happened to her and finally arrives to explain to the unknown MMDA officers that it’s illegal to ask for money.
Read more about it here.
Therefore, with the help of social media, it finally reached the agency. MMDA was quick to apprehend the company.
In fact, they assured everyone that “no tow trucks from Arcson Towing Services will be dispatched for operations starting May 24, 2016.”
To view the complete list of accredited MMDA trucks, click this link.
Towing procedures in the Philippines
According to the Philippine Star that indicated MMDA Resolution No. 02-33 dated August 29, 2002, named: Approving and Adopting the Revised MMDA Guidelines for Towing and Impounding Operations in Metro Manila.”
It says there that “stalled” and illegally parked vehicles” are to be towed and impounded accordingly. And by “stalled” they mean any motor vehicle and/or their attachment, which for any cause, is unable to proceed under its own motive power and is on a public road, street or thoroughfare and dilapidated/junked vehicle in Metro Manila. While “Illegally parked vehicles” is defined as vehicles parked in prohibited areas by law or city ordinances designated by the MMDA and other Local Government Units or LGUs.
In addition, the resolution stated the following points:
- The towing company should be listed as legal and registered with MMDA annually
- MMDA, on the other hand, will issue numbered stickers to tow trucks
- The towing company or agency shall be held responsible for losses/damages incurred while towing the vehicle/s.
- Attended illegally parked vehicles shall not be towed but the driver shall be immediately issued a TVR
- Unattended illegally parked vehicle shall be towed and issued a TVR immediately upon arrival at the impounding area
- Flat-tired vehicle must be moved to the emergency lane on its own, if not, it will be towed. In either case, TVR will be issued.
- Changing of flat tires on the roadway is not allowed.
- Stalled or illegally parked vehicle as a result of an empty fuel tank, may be towed to the nearest gasoline station, however, the towing fee should be paid to the tow truck in accordance with the number of kilometers from the point of origin to the gasoline station and a TVR shall be issued to the driver.
- “Illegally parked vehicles that are already clamped to the tow truck shall not be subject for intercession by the owner of the vehicle or by the representatives of the company’s two truck.
- If the vehicle is unattended, the tow truck driver shall blow the truck’s horn five (5) times twice in a row with a space of 1 minute in between. If the owner does not respond, the vehicle shall be towed.
- If the tow truck has no authority to operate, towing service in Metro Manila, the towing incident shall be considered an unlawful or illegal act, and the tow truck operator shall be charged for colorum operation. The traffic enforcer shall issue a TVR to the tow truck operator through the driver for such violation and shall impound said tow truck. – However, the towing truck mentioned in the alleged scam was included in the MMDA’s list of ACCREDITED TOWING SERVICES as of May 12, 2015.
I hope this initiative will efficiently rectify the above-mentioned scam.
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