MMDA to auction off impounded vehicles on Aug. 29

Unclaimed vehicles gather dust at the MMDA impounding site in Marikina. —MMDA Facebook page

Owners of vehicles impounded by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have until Aug. 29 to settle their fines.

Starting 2 p.m. that day, vehicles that will remain unclaimed will be auctioned off, according to MMDA operations supervisor Bong Nebrija.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Nebrija said the agency would be holding an auction to dispose of more than 150 cars currently held at MMDA impounding centers in Ultra, Pasig City and Tumana, Marikina City. Some of the cars had been gathering dust there since 2007, he noted.

The auction, “one of the biggest” the MMDA will hold, is part of efforts to clear up the impounding sites and make room for recently apprehended vehicles, particularly those towed for illegal parking.

During the first half of the year, the MMDA cited 25,715 motorists for illegal parking as it intensified road-clearing operations across the capital.

If a vehicle was impounded for operating without a franchise, the owner should pay the P6,000 fine and a daily rate of P80 for its stay at the impounding center.  This means that if a car has been with the MMDA since 2007, for example, the owner must pay up to P298,000.

Interested bidders should submit to the MMDA their letter of intent until Aug. 9 and pay the nonrefundable fee of P1,000.

Nebrija said car owners could still redeem their vehicles before the auction starts at 2 p.m. on Aug. 29 at the agency’s Makati City headquarters. A list of the vehicles up for auction is available on the MMDA Facebook page.

The vehicles will be sold on an “as is where is” basis, and the proceeds will go to the MMDA’s general fund. – Jovic Yee