MANILA, Philippines – To encourage motorists to maintain their vehicles’ road worthiness, Metro Manila mayors Thursday approved an increase in penalty, from P200 to up to P3,000, being charged by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for stalled vehicles that contribute to traffic congestion, especially during the holiday rush.

During the Metro Manila Council (MMC) meeting at the Muntinlupa City Hall, the Metro mayors agreed to increase the P200 fine to P1,500 for light vehicles, P2,500 for mediumsized, and P3,000 for heavy vehicles such as trucks and lorries.

Voting en banc, the 20-member MMC, the policy and governing body of the MMDA, passed a resolution amending MMDA Regulation No. 96-003 providing for guidelines in the towing of stalled or illegally parked vehicles along major thoroughfares of Metro Manila.

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

Cars, jeeps, and pick-up vans having less than 4,000-kilo gross weight are charged P800 for the first four kilometers and P200 for every succeeding kilometer. `

The fines and towing fees shall be paid within three days from the date of the apprehension and towing, otherwise a daily impounding fee will be imposed on the owner of the towed vehicle, according to MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino.

For the first two months that the towed vehicle remains unclaimed, and P60 a day for the third and fourth months, and P80 a day for the fifth and succeeding months.

Tolentino said the increase is needed to goad private motorists and operators of public utility vehicles to properly maintain their vehicles.

Echoing the observation of MMC members, Tolentino said illegally parked vehicles and those that suffer malfunction while on national highways greatly contribute to traffic congestion, especially during this holiday rush.

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