Impounded vehicles start transfer to Tarlac

Inquirer file photo

THE LAND Transportation Office (LTO) has begun transferring impounded cars from its central office in Quezon City to Tarlac City, making it more expensive for owners from the capital to redeem their vehicles.

On Monday, nine vehicles driven by LTO personnel arrived at a 1-hectare government compound in San Isidro village, according to Estela Nicolas, LTO Tarlac district office chief.

Nicolas said vehicle owners would need to travel 130 kilometers from Metro Manila to Tarlac, “and that means spending additional gas expenses.” She said vehicles still in the LTO lot after six months would be put up for auction.

Aside from the fines, the owners are charged P100 in impounding fee and P15 in storage fee for each day the vehicles are in the compound.

Last week, LTO chief Edgar Galvante announced the transfer to decongest the main office’s 4-ha compound on East Avenue in Quezon City where 150 to 200 vehicles are impounded.

Nicolas said the new impounding area, which the LTO acquired in 1990, can hold 800 vehicles. The area, which would also house an LTO district office, is along the Tarlac-Pangasinan Road near Tarlac River. Gabriel Cardinoza, Inquirer Northern Luzon