MMDA Towing Guidelines

by Ronel Forbes

May 5, 2022

We’ve recently seen a lot of footage of people acting out when their cars are being towed, both locally and globally. In the Philippines, there was a well-known incident in which a person interrogated MMDA employees as they were ready to tow her automobile.

That said, it is recommended that every motorist in the metro learn about the MMDA towing standards, not only to avoid misunderstandings, but also to understand your rights and restrictions under the legislation.

Read through our post on News and Articles today to educate yourself with must-know knowledge about car towing in the Philippines.

The Reasons for Towing Your Car

The MMDA and its certified towing companies have the legal authority to tow unlawfully parked and stalled automobiles, as well as vehicles involved in traffic accidents.

Vehicles parked illegally

Of course, parking your automobile in areas where there is a “No Parking” sign will cause you problems. That stated, national legislation and local government unit rules have previously specified areas where your automobile can be towed or the driver can be arrested for improper parking.

Furthermore, the MMDA has specified parking zones where you are not permitted to park.

First, drivers are not permitted to park their vehicles on Metro Manila’s national highways, as well as city and municipal principal and minor roadways. Parking within four meters of fire hydrants and emergency-related institutions such as hospitals, clinics, and fire stations is also prohibited.

Similarly, parking your automobile within six meters of any curved roadways or crossroads is deemed an illegal parking offense. Pedestrian crosswalks, the roadside of any legally parked cars, sidewalks or walk routes, alleys, and near bridges are among the other areas.

Illegal Parking Comes in Two Forms

Unattended: As the name implies, this is a form of unlawfully parked vehicle in which the driver or passenger is not present at the time the vehicle is towed.
Attended: This is a sort of illegal parking in which the driver is present or appears just before the clamping or towing is about to begin.

Stalled Vehicles

A stalled vehicle is one that is unable to move or becomes stuck on the road or in any of the previously stated designated zones. It could be due to a flat tire, an empty fuel tank, an overheating engine, or a dead battery, among other things.

Flat-tired vehicles should be moved to an emergency lane as soon as feasible, or the vehicle will be towed. This means that no one is permitted to change their tires on the road.

If you run out of gas or your battery dies, your car will be towed to the nearest petrol station, and you will be charged for towing services. In all of these cases, a Traffic Violation Receipt (TVR) for obstruction would be issued.

Road Accidents Involve Cars

The MMDA Road Emergency Group has tow trucks that are intended for pulling cars involved in accidents free of charge to ensure the smooth flow of traffic in the event of an emergency.

However, many “government-accredited” towing companies don’t appear to have a standard protocol for safely towing an automobile.

Procedure for Towing and impounding

When it comes to towing and impounding cars, the MMDA has severe restrictions that apply to both the driver and the towing business. This is to ensure that the towing firm is authorized and to prevent carnapping occurrences, as well as to ensure that the driver’s and towing personnel’s rights are not infringed upon.

Following are the necessary vehicle towing guidelines that the towing firm should follow:

In general, an attended car parked in a forbidden place will not be towed, but a traffic enforcer or constable will issue a penalty. Drivers who do not immediately remove their vehicles after receiving a citation will be penalized with further infractions.
The tow truck driver must blow his horn five times for unattended automobiles to warn the owner or driver. The horn is sounded again if the driver is not there after a minute. The towing business will then proceed with the towing and impounding process if no attendant comes.
Before the actual towing, the towing employees must call the Metrobase or MMDA’s base to ensure that everything is documented and that the company is allowed. The car will be towed after the MMDA on duty gives the go signal.
When the car is clamped, the towing attendant will give the traffic enforcer a Technical Inspection Report, which he or she will give to the owner when he or she arrives. The report will be given to the owner if he or she arrives before the towing firm leaves. If the request is denied, it will be indicated in the report.
They must notify the Metrobase that the towing is underway within one minute of the tow truck moving. When they get at the impounding area, the same thing happens. Metrobase workers will check with the impounding facility once they arrive to see if the unit is actually there.

MMDA Towing Guidelines on Your Driver’s Rights

Here are some things to keep in mind to preserve your safety and avoid dealing with unlicensed individuals or towing companies:

There will be no illegal parking fines collected on the grounds or during towing.
No towing workers are permitted to enter your vehicle. If they persist, report them to the MMDA or the nearest traffic enforcement officer.
You can obtain the towing personnel’s identification and verify that they are dressed in the company’s uniform.
If a ticket is not issued by a constable, you have the right to question them.
If the towing company is not on the MMDA’s registry, refuse to tow.
When your automobile is towed due to an accident, refuse to pay towing fees. This is completely free, as stated previously in this text.
If your car is damaged while being towed, notify the firm or staff and file a complaint.

Final Thoughts

One of the Philippines’ most serious concerns, particularly in the urban, is traffic. It is for this reason that the MMDA has established towing guidelines.

As you can see, the ordinance is not one-sided; it also ensures that the driver is protected, as well as that the vehicle is not towed by kidnappers or criminals. c

Visit MGS Insurance Services for more information about motor car insurance.