Home 
A PUBLIC utility drivers organization yesterday opposed city government’s plans to dispose of vehicles that have remained in the city’s impound lot for several months.
During a public hearing yesterday, members of the Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbo (Nadsu) said most impounded vehicles are jeepneys.
“The impounding of our vehicles took away our livelihood,” said Roy Opura of Nadsu.
Instead of auctioning off the vehicles, the City Council should find a way to let owners get their vehicles back.
In a proposed amendment to the city’s Traffic Code, vehicles that have been unclaimed in the impound lot for more than three months would be auctioned off to make room for other impounded vehicles.
The proposal, raised by Councilor Raul Alcoseba, said vehicle owners would be given chances to get their vehicles back before it was auctioned.
The councilor said the impound has become a “calamity area,” which is congested and frequented by thieves.
But Opura said the vehicles stay unclaimed because drivers could not afford to pay the fees to have the vehicle released.
Fees include not only he fine for the violation that led to the impounding, but also the payment of all other fines for other violations incurred before the vehicle was taken into custody.
Opura cited himself as an example. He said his public utility jeepney, with Mandaue City-Cebu City route, has been in the lot for three years because he was still saving up to pay for the fines. /Reporter Marian Codilla
