THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday, February 26, all local government units (LGU) to establish impounding areas for towed vehicles.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said cities and municipalities should designate impounding areas for towed vehicles or those involved in accidents for safekeeping and also as part of clearing of roads of any obstruction that could affect traffic flow.
“Isa ring nakasasagabal sa ating mga lansangan ay ang mga nakahambalang na sasakyan na kung saan-saan na lang tumitigil at pumaparada. Ang mga illegally parked vehicles ay kailangang i-tow at dalhin sa impounding area. It is, therefore, incumbent upon cities and municipalities to designate impounding areas for the safekeeping of towed vehicles,” Año said.
“Ang pagtatalaga ng impounding area ay mandato sa ating mga syudad at bayan. Kailangan nating umaksyon para sa mas maluwag na daan, mas mabilis na daloy ng trapiko, at para sa kapakanan ng publiko,” he added.
He said the LGU should also pass ordinances specifying guidelines on towing, impounding and releasing of impounded vehicles and prescribing corresponding penalties.
Año said that such ordinances should be consistent with national laws and policies, and shall not be unreasonable or discriminatory.
Earlier, the DILG gave LGUs 75 days to clear inner and tertiary roads in their areas of responsibility in a bid to reclaim public roads being used for private purposes and ease traffic congestion.
“Kahanay po nito ang isa pa naming direktiba, ang MC 2020-004, na sumasakop sa operasyon ng mga tricycle kasama ang pagbibigay ng prangkisa. Ang mga tricycle ang madalas na sakit ng ulo ng mga traffic enforcer lalo na kung walang terminal at kung saan-saan na lang nag-aabang ng pasahero,” he said.
The agency also ordered the LGUs to create a task force to enforce the ban on tricycles on national highways.
Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said those who will violate the ban should have their tricycles impounded.
“With Road Clearing 2.0 and the prohibition of tricycles in national highways, all LGUs should have the necessary facilities to implement these directives. And this includes tow trucks and impounding areas,” he said. (SunStar Philippines)