The Metro Manila Council (MMC) approved revised guidelines for towing and impounding operations in Metro Manila which is contained in Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Regulation 24-004.

MMDA chairperson Atty. Romando Artes said that the revised guidelines aim to professionalize and harmonize towing and impounding procedures for illegally parked and stalled vehicles, ensuring fairness and transparency while protecting the rights of vehicle owners.

“We want to professionalize the towing services due to numerous complaints regarding practices of towing operators,” Artes said.

“The revised guidelines aim to streamline the towing process, enhance the regulation on towing and impounding of illegally parked and stalled vehicles, ensuring that they are conducted fairly and transparently while protecting the rights of vehicle owners,” he added.

One key change is the option for owners of stalled vehicles to transport their vehicles to their preferred location instead of having them automatically impounded.

Meantime, towing rates will remain unchanged, and towing procedures and rates will be clearly displayed on towing vehicles.

The guidelines will apply to all towing services and trucks operating in Metro Manila, including those owned by government agencies.

Artes also disclosed that the cities will be divided into five sectors, with one towing service company selected through a bidding process for each sector.

The winning towing companies will be solely responsible for removing stalled or illegally parked vehicles in their respective areas as quickly as possible.

“Towing procedures and towing rates must be clearly displayed at towing vehicles. There will be no increase in towing charges, but we ensure that it will be reasonable,” Artes said.