The Land Transportation Office or LTO, on August 8, has started transferring impounded vehicles from its main office in Quezon City to an impounding area in Brgy. San Isidro, Tarlac City.
Nine of the more than 150 vehicles were included in the first batch that the LTO brought to the new impounding area.
The LTO says the transfer will be done daily to alleviate congestion of impounded vehicles in the main office.
“Hopefully, given the distance and hassle to come here, the vehicles would be fixed so that should there be violations, those vehicles would not be impounded anymore,” said Law Enforcement Service Director Francis Ray Almora.
The transfer is a big help to the LTO since it will now have enough space for newly-apprehended vehicles from Quezon City.
The LTO will transfer first vehicles which are still functional and can be driven followed by those that need towing.
“Those motor vehicles have been in the custody of the LTO for a long time. So, they were given ample time to retrieve to pay the fines and get their motor vehicles. It has been a long time now,” Almora said.
Aside from vehicles coming from Metro Manila, the LTO will also bring to this impounding area towed vehicles from Region 3.
Meanwhile, Seventeen “colorum” vehicles impounded by the LTFRB were also transferred Thursday Tarlac City. Although the LTO said it will auction off impounded vehicles unclaimed after six months, the LTFRB has yet to review if it will do the same for its impounded vehicles.
A vehicle is considered colorum if it is operating illegally as public transport. This includes private vehicles operating without a franchise, as well as public utility vehicles plying routes beyond what their franchises allow.
The impounding area in Tarlac has an area of about 8, 000 square meter. However, a big portion of the land still needs to be filled. It is still bare and muddy, while the security fence is still under construction. LTO Tarlac District Office officer-in-charge Estelita Nicolas said her office was only given two weeks’ notice of the transfer.
“Kami rin ho dito, we were surprised,” she said. “But anyway, we have to support whatever the program of our superiors.”
However, Nicolas said the lot should complete improvements by October.
Owners of impounded vehicles will have to take a two-hour trip north—after paying their penalties at the head offices of the LTO and LTFRB—to retrieve them. On top of the penalties, they have to pay a P150 impounding fee, a P15 a day storage fee and the costs of moving their vehicles there.
Transport groups and vehicle owners are complaining, but authorities said it’s up to them to avoid the cost and inconvenience.
“Huwag na silang mag-violate, di ho ba?” said Nicolas.
Meanwhile, LTFRB Technical Division chief Joel Bolano said the move is meant free up the agency’s parking area, as well as to lessen the traffic congestion at its entrance along East Avenue.
The LTFRB can no longer take impounded vehicles to its Taytay, Rizlal facility as this is being used for taxi metering and sealing services. There is no decision yet on whether or not the vehicles impounded in Rizal will also be brought to Tarlac.
Bolano also said the LTFRB has apprehended 65 colorum vehicles since July./UNTV News and Rescue (Joan Nano)and CNN Philippines