• CHRYSEE G. SAMILLANO
The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod approved the impounding of vehicles through the issuance of impounding receipts and providing necessary fees and penalties for violation of City Ordinance No. 09-17-818, or an “Ordinance establishing the tow-away zones in various streets of Bacolod City.”
Bacolod Councilor Al Victor Espino, chairman of the SP Committee on Transport and Traffic, authored an ordinance amending Sections 1, 2, 6, and 7 of C.O. No. 09-17-818, which also includes the guidelines and standards on accrediting privately owned towing companies as per paragraph (f), section IX of C.O. 338.
C.O. No. 09-17-818 was passed on May 17, 2017, or five years ago, thus, there is a need to adjust the penalties provided for the clamping, towing, and/or impounding fees to sufficiently cover the cost/s of towing and impounding, the ordinance said.
This is to efficiently and effectively implement existing traffic ordinances, rules, and regulation and to be at pace with the continuing development of the City of Bacolod, it said.
The new wheel clamping fees under the amended Towing Ordinance are as follows: sedan classic vehicles – P600; medium size vehicles – P800; and heavy vehicles – P1,000.
The new towing fees for light vehicles is P1,500 (for first four kilometer); and P1,000 (for two or three-wheeled vehicles). For medium vehicles – P2,500 (for first four kilometers), and for heavy vehicles – P4,500 (for the first four kilometers). An additional P200 will be charged for every succeeding kilometer travelled, on top of the base fee, from the towing to impounding area.
The prohibited parking areas, or designated “Tow-Away Zones” in the City of Bacolod will be determined and identified by the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod.
The new impounding/storage fees under the amended Towing Ordinance is as follows: P200 per day for the first and second month; P350/day for the third and fourth month; and P500/day for the fifth and sixth month.
The ordinance said the city mayor or its authorized representative will provide for the impounding area which will be safe for the impounded vehicles or motorized tricycles and the same will be located within the city.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod will issue accreditation certificate to privately owned towing company who has completed its requirements. Any interested applicant should submit the requirements along with its letter of intent to the chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Traffic, it added.*
