MMDA may do away with tow truck companies

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is looking into doing away with towing services due to reported abuses by towing companies, an official said Monday.

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia noted that abusive towing companies have put the agency in bad light.

"Ang target namin dito, 'yung mga tow trucks matanggal na natin 'yan, 'yung di na namin ia-accredit kasi talagang sumasakit ulo namin, nasisira imahe ng MMDA kapag may mga luko-luko po na tow trucks," he said.

Garcia said this proposal will still undergo committee hearings.

The MMDA official also expressed confidence that the increase in penalties — recently approved by the Metro Manila Council (MMC) — will discourage illegal parking.

According to the MMC, the fine for attended illegally parked cars will be raised from P200 to P1,000 while for unattended illegally parked cars, the fine will be raised from P300 to P2,000 aside from the cost of towing.

"Siguro naman po madadala na tayo sa laki po ng penalty na P2,000," Garcia said.

The fines were increased to make the MMDA's driver-only scheme on EDSA more effective with alternate routes freed of illegally parked vehicles. —KBK, GMA News