FYI. A bud of mine from the MMDA said that this "will take effect ASAP". This is on top of towing fees. Kawawa naman yung mga masisiran (kahit well maintained pero na-tyempuhan lang).

MMDA hikes fines for stalled vehicles

By Tina Santos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:10:00 12/17/2010

Filed Under: Government offices & agencies, Road Transport

MANILA, Philippines—The Metro Manila Council (MMC), the policy-making body of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), has approved a resolution raising the penalty for stalled vehicles from P200 to a maximum of P3,000.

MMDA Regulation No. 96-003, which was passed on Tuesday, provides guidelines on the towing of stalled or illegally parked vehicles in Metro Manila’s major thoroughfares. It is expected to take effect soon.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said they decided to increase the penalty to force private motorists and operators of public utility vehicles (PUVs) to keep their vehicles in good running condition.

Right now, PUV operators or owners of private vehicles would be fined P200 should their cars stall on major roads. Drivers charged with illegal parking, on the other face, would face a fine of P150.

But during the MMC meeting held at the Muntinlupa City Hall on Tuesday, Metro Manila mayors agreed that the P200 fine for light vehicles should be hiked to P1,500. For medium-sized vehicles, the fine would be P2,500 and P3,000 for heavy vehicles such as trucks and lorries.

This is on top of the regular towing fee imposed on the owner of the stalled vehicle. For trucks with a gross capacity weight of 4,000 kilos and above, the corresponding towing fee would be P1,200 for the first four kilometers and P200 for every succeeding kilometer.

Cars, jeeps and pickup vans with a gross weight of less than 4,000 kilos would be charged P800 for the first four kilometers and P200 for every succeeding kilometer.

Echoing the observation of MMC members, Tolentino reiterated that illegally parked and stalled vehicles on major roads contribute to the worsening of traffic, especially during the holiday rush.

“These vehicles get stalled on the roads because most probably, their engines are not properly maintained. We are hoping that motorists, including PUV operators, would be more responsible in maintaining the road-worthiness of their motor vehicles,” the MMDA chief said.

He added that the fines and towing fees should be paid within three days from the date of apprehension and towing, otherwise a daily impounding fee would be imposed on the owner of the towed vehicle.

For the first two months that the towed vehicle remains unclaimed, the owner would be charged a fee of P40 per day. This would be hiked to P60 a day for the third and fourth months and P80 a day for the fifth and succeeding months.