• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The Bacolod Traffic and Transport Management Department (BTTMD) is applying a five-minute rule for road obstructions during an enforcement operation.
BTTMD Head Atty. Reuben Mikhail Sabig said the protocol when a towing team identifies an illegally parked vehicle is that a five-minute window is provided for the driver to move the unit, if they are present at the scene.
Sabig clarified that while moving the vehicle within the given timeframe prevents impoundment, a citation ticket for the parking violation is still issued to the driver.
An average of 10 vehicles per day has been seized by the BTTMD.
These units are transported to the city’s impounding facility in Barangay Alijis, which Sabig noted has reached its current capacity, following the volume of recent apprehensions of motorcycles, e-bikes, and tricycles.
Under City Ordinance No. 1035, motorists whose vehicles are towed face standard charges based on vehicle size and the distance to the impound lot.
Daily impounding fees are also applied for every day the vehicle remains in the city’s custody.*
