‘Mandaue should nix towing agency’

The Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team) yesterday passed a resolution urging the city government to rescind its contract with Jadewell Parking System Corp.

Lawyer James Jamaal of the City Treasurer’s Office said they will send a notice of rescission and collect undeclared fees from Jadewell.

Team board member Francis Rod Bagaslao said their resolution was prompted by complaints from motorists about the Jadewell’s operations.

He recounted a complaint from an operator that a taxi unit was towed for illegal parking along the road in barangay Ibabao-Estancia close to the impounding area at 3 a.m. while a driver slept in the cab.

The lawyer described the towing as unethical. He said the towing personnel should have awakened the driver.

“That’s one of the cases where we saw abuse of authority,” Bagaslao said.

Engineer Tomas Villanueva, Jadewell’s branch manager, however, told Cebu Daily News that their personnel always informs drivers if vehicles will be towed.

They leave a note if the driver is not around, Villanueva said.

He said the staff is taught nonviolent communication in their office since the business puts them in frequent contact with irate drivers.

Villanueva said Bagaslao’s allegation was ridiculous since a person in a vehicle could always notice if it is being towed off.

Villanueva said the city government failed to identify places for setting up high-technology electronic parking units each worth P240,000.

Villanueva said they can’t just put the electronic parking system anywhere.

Once the system is installed, it must be maintained for 10 years or permanently.

“The table system needs to be put underground and if removed might be destroyed,” he added.

Villanueva, meanwhile, said Jadewell’s daily and monthly proceeds are properly liquidated.

Rogelio Tan, owner of Jadewell, has the documents to prove that the company paid the performance bond of P500,000 after signing an agreement with Mandaue City.

Vehicles impounded for more than six months were also auctioned and invitations to bid were published in a local daily for two weeks, Villanueva said.

Their last auction was held on June 30.

Villanueva said if their contract will be rescinded, it should be for factual reasons with legal basis and due process.

He said they were willing to sit down and patch up with city officials especially Mayor Jonas Cortes.