New wheel clamps to curb illegal parking in Iloilo City

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

The city government of Iloilo has intensified its drive against illegally parked vehicles and other obstructions on national roads with the arrival of new wheel clamps.

Traffic and Transportation Management Office (TTMO) head, retired Col. Uldarico Garbanzos, said the city now has an inventory of 40 medium wheel clamps, 20 large wheel clamps, and 50 motor wheel clamps.

With the acquisition of new wheel clamps, the city government will reinforce the clamping ordinance passed by the City Council in 2014 and amended in 2015.

Garbanzos said the TTMO is conducting training sessions and practical demonstrations for traffic enforcers on the proper use of wheel clamps.

He emphasized the importance of adhering to proper procedures and protocols during the ordinance’s implementation.

Penalties under the ordinance are P1,000 for light vehicles, P1,200 for medium vehicles, and P1,500 for heavy vehicles, with a P5,000 penalty for unauthorized removal.

City Mayor Jerry Treñas likened the issue of illegal parking to a cat-and-mouse game.

“What we are seeing is like a cat-and-mouse game. When the cat’s away, the mouse will play,” he said.

He noted that while traffic aides issue citation tickets to violators, these notices are often ignored, necessitating the intervention of other law enforcement agencies.

“Our fight against illegal on-road parking is continuous. I have coordinated with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Highway Patrol Group, and the police traffic division. We need help, especially with wing vans, as most are not from here,” he stressed.

Residents in several areas, including Loboc in Lapuz, Balantang in Jaro, and the coastal and circumferential roads, have reported instances of on-road parking.

Atty. Gaudioso P. Geduspan II, officer-in-charge regional director of the LTO Western Visayas, said his personnel conduct daily monitoring as part of routine checks.

“I instructed that when they take off for law enforcement daily, they need to pass by coastal and Loboc areas for deterrence and visibility,” he emphasized.

From July 18 to July 25, the LTO reported a total of 16 units that were illegally parked. Out of these, five units were issued Show Cause Orders, while eleven units received Temporary Operator’s Permits.