MANILA, Philippines – Think twice before parking your vehicles, as higher penalties on illegal parking are set to take effect starting Wednesday, December 19.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) published Regulation No. 18-008 on December 12 in two newpapers, setting illegal parking fines for attended vehicles from P200 to P1,000, and unattended vehicles from P500 to P2,000.
According to Crisanto Saruca, MMDA's legislative and legal affairs officer-in-charge, violators may be issued traffic violation tickets up to twice a day, with a 3-hour interval between issuances. This means a motorist can be fined up to P4,000 a day for illegal parking.
Vehicles left unattended will be left with parking tickets, and may be towed. Attended vehicles may classified as cars blocking traffic flow, for example, waiting to pick up passengers.
The MMDA earlier suspended the towing of vehicles as its impounding area has reached its capacity, but Saruca said enforcers may still "make exemptions" and tow violating cars.