MMDA: Higher fines better than

towing illegally parked cars

By: ABS-CBN News | December 19, 2018

MANILA – Increasing fines instead of towing vehicles will be more effective in curbing illegal
parking, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Jojo Garcia said
Wednesday.

This after the agency announced higher fines for violators to be enforced at the start of the new
year.

In a press conference, Garcia said fines would prompt car owners to park in designated areas
and that towing was highly susceptible to corruption and could even trigger altercations.

"Mas effective 'yan kesa tow... Eh pag tinaas mo ang fine palagay ko madadala iyan," Garcia told
reporters.

(That's more effective than towing. When you raise the fine, I think drivers will learn.)

"Aaraw-arawin natin 'yan, ubusan tayo ng ticket... Kaya naman nasa kalsada 'yan nagtitipid sila
magbayad ng tamang parking. Siguro naman sa P2,000 a day, P10,000 a week, P40,000 a month
babayad ka na ng parking kesa mag-fine ka," he said.

(We will do this everyday until our tickets run out. They're out on the streets because they don't
want to pay parking fee. With P2,000 a day, P10,000 a week, P40,000 a month, they might park
properly instead of paying the fine)

Effective January, fines for attended illegal parking (illegally parked cars with the driver on board)
will be raised to P1,000 from P200, while that of unattended illegal parking will be P2,000 from
the current P500, said MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialogo.

In August, video of a female driver confronting enforcers who tried to tow her car for illegal
parking went viral on social media.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

1. What is the news all about?

The news is about illegally parked cars and their increased fines starting January 2019.
2. What is the ultimate purpose for the increased fines?

The purpose of the increased fines is to discipline the drivers in parking.

3. Why do drivers often park illegally?

Drivers often park illegally on the grounds that they avoid paying parking fees.

4. How much will be raised on the fines?

For attended illegal parking, it will raise from P200 to P1,000. While that of unattended
illegal parking, it will raise from P500 to P2,000.

5. When will this be effective?

This will be effective starting January next year.