Año directs creation of impounding areas for towed vehicles

As part of the government's effort to clear roads from any forms of obstruction, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Wednesday ordered all cities and municipalities to allot impounding areas for illegally-parked vehicles that were towed.

Through Memorandum Circular 2020-031, Año said cities and towns are mandated to establish impounding areas for the safekeeping of illegally-parked vehicles and those cars involved in road accidents.

"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," Año said in a press statement.

"It is, therefore, incumbent upon cities and municipalities to designate impounding areas for the safekeeping of towed vehicles,” he added.

In line with this, Año called on local boards to pass ordinances which will specify guidelines on towing, impounding and releasing of impounded vehicles and prescribing corresponding penalties.

Tricycles, which will be apprehended by local government units for passing on national highways, should also be brought to the impounding areas, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

On February 17, the DILG ordered all barangay governments to clear roads of obstruction within a 75-day period.

Año said the road clearing efforts, sparked by President Rodrigo Duterte’s order during his State of the Nation Address, will now focus on LGUs and barangays reclaiming local roads. —KBK, GMA News