Luigi wants towing rates amended to entice bidder

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Mayor Gabriel Luigi Quisumbing is asking the City Council to amend the city’s existing ordinance on towing and impounding fee rates.

Quisumbing wants the rates adjusted as well as the sharing percentage between the city government and the private towing company. The mayor’s request was referred to the committee on transportation, communication, and public utilities chaired by Councilor Elstone Dabon.

Dabon said the council approved earlier a resolution requesting towing service companies to join in the public bidding for the procurement of towing services but no one was interested, prompting Quisumbing to seek the amendment of the existing ordinance.

Quisumbing said the ordinance has prescribed specific amounts for the towing and impounding fees rather than adopting the prevailing fees of existing private towing services in Cebu.

"A fair comparison of the prevailing towing fees, however, would show that the rates being offered by the City of Mandaue to private towing services are way below the standard rates. This may be the reason no application has ever been subject for consideration of the TEAM board," Quisumbing said.

At present the city government has a standard towing fee of P1,000 for two-wheeled vehicles; P1,300 for three-wheeled vehicles; P2,000 for four-wheeled vehicles; P6,000 for six-wheeled heavy trucks; P3,500  for empty trailer trucks; and P6,000 for a loaded trailer truck or a 20-footer van.

However, no towing companies would want to partner with the city with the existing rate.

"In order to attract private towing services, companies and investors to assist the city in its campaign to ease traffic, there is a need to adjust select provisions of Ordinance No. 13-20151042, including the rates prescribed and percentage sharing of the city and that of the private towing company," Quisumbing said.

The mayor suggested making the ordinance more flexible and fixed more competitive rates to facilitate interested private towing companies.

The city’s traffic management office is empowered to call upon the operator of a privately-owned towing company to move or tow stalled vehicles.

Mandaue City does not also allow changing of flat tires on the road because it will add to traffic congestion. (FREEMAN)