Motorists’ Apprehension over Towing of Vehicles Arises Anew

Osmeña dispels fears by saying he will conduct public consultation whether or not to revive towing

Some persons, particularly the owners of vehicles that do not have garage, are afraid that the towing of vehicles illegally park in roads will be revived in the city once Cebu City South District Representative Tomas R. Osmeña will be elected again as mayor.

The towing of vehicles that obstructed the flow of traffic and sidewalks were intensified during the stint of Osmeña as mayor, but it was suspended when Mayor Michael Rama assumed as mayor in mid 2010.

Osmeña who is aspiring to be reelected as mayor on the forthcoming May 13 Automated Local and National Elections, said if he will win against Rama he will conduct a public consultation whether to revive the controversial towing of vehicles.

Hundreds of vehicles, most of them motorcycles, had been towed by two private towing companies hired by the City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) during the stint of Osmeña as mayor.

It was observed that the illegal parking of vehicles in the road contribute to traffic congestion problem that prompted the CITOM officials to recommend the hiring of private towing companies to assist them in removing the illegally-parked vehicles.

A group of motorists against the towing of vehicles was created and it was headed by Tinago Barangay Councilman Joel Garganera who believed that another way to discouraged illegal parking of vehicles is to clamp them, not by towing.

If the vehicles are clamped, its owners will just pay the P500 fine and to settle their other unpaid violations as recorded in the Traffic Violations Bureau, but if the vehicles are being towed the owners will also pay the towing fees.

Towing fees for motorcycles is P1,500 while close to P3,000 for the four wheeled vehicles.