PAVIA, Iloilo — Motorists in Pavia are being put on notice: illegal parking is no longer being treated lightly.
Seven motorcycles were already clamped on the first day of enforcement of the municipality’s new wheel-clamping ordinance, signaling the start of a stricter campaign against vehicles parked in designated no-parking areas.
The Pavia Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) reported that the seven motorcycles had been clamped as of noon on September 1, the day Municipal Ordinance No. 2026-04, or the Pavia Wheel Clamping Ordinance, took effect.
For motorcycle owners, the immediate penalty is ₱500.
But motorcycles are not the only vehicles covered by the new regulation. The ordinance applies to various types of vehicles found illegally parked, stopped or standing in designated clamping zones.
HOW MUCH IS THE PENALTY?
Under the ordinance, penalties depend on the type of vehicle involved:
- Motorcycles, tricycles, e-bikes, e-trisikads and trisikads: ₱500
- Cars, vans and small trucks weighing 3.5 to 4.5 tons: ₱1,000
- Heavy vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction machinery: ₱2,500
This means the widely reported ₱2,500 maximum fine does not apply to ordinary motorcycles. Motorcycle violators face a ₱500 penalty, while the highest fine is reserved for heavier vehicles.
The municipality’s official ordinance listing confirms that Ordinance No. 2026-04 establishes the use of wheel clamps to immobilize illegally parked vehicles and imposes penalties for violations.
WHERE IS PARKING PROHIBITED?
The crackdown covers several major roads and access routes throughout Pavia.
These include portions of the Old Panay Railway access roads from Ungka II to Cabugao Sur, as well as national highways covering routes from Ungka II to Cabugao Sur, Jibao-an toward the San Miguel boundary, and Ungka II C1 to Jibao-an.
Other covered areas include Gonzaga Street and Evangelista Street, along with provincial roads such as Felix and Angela Gorriceta Avenue, Purok III, Anilao, Pangsanga-an, Tigum and Cabugao Norte.
Several barangay roads, including Kabsaka Road and NIA Road, are also included.
The designated areas are classified as strict no-parking zones, meaning motorists cannot simply leave their vehicles temporarily and expect enforcement to be overlooked.
CLAMP FIRST — THEN TOWING
The enforcement process is also designed to escalate.
A vehicle violating the ordinance will initially be clamped for the first 24 hours. If it remains in violation after that period, authorities may proceed with towing.
For motorists, that means an illegally parked vehicle could result in more than simply paying the initial fine if the violation is not addressed promptly.
The municipality has also separately published an ordinance dealing with the towing and impounding of illegally parked and stalled vehicles, including applicable towing, storage and penalty provisions.
PAVIA GAVE MOTORISTS ADVANCE NOTICE
The implementation did not come without preparation.
According to the PSTMO, information campaigns were conducted in barangays before enforcement began. The municipality also distributed information materials, made public announcements and installed signs identifying designated clamping areas.
Barangay officials likewise helped spread information about the September 1 implementation through their respective social media pages.
The PSTMO also conducted a wheel-clamping drill to train personnel on the proper and orderly implementation of the new system before actual enforcement started.
Vice Mayor Edsel Gerochi said the information campaign was intended to give motorists sufficient notice and encourage compliance before penalties were imposed.
PART OF A WIDER PUSH FOR TRAFFIC DISCIPLINE
Pavia’s move comes amid broader efforts across Iloilo to address illegal parking and traffic congestion.
In Iloilo City, traffic authorities have also intensified efforts against vehicles obstructing major roads. Officials recently moved to formalize a no-parking arrangement along Bonifacio Drive after motorists continued parking there despite an earlier agreement to keep the major thoroughfare clear.
Iloilo City has likewise pursued stronger traffic enforcement against illegal parking and other road violations, reflecting growing concern over congestion, pedestrian access and road safety.
For Pavia, however, the message is now particularly clear: if a vehicle is parked inside a designated clamping zone, the risk is no longer just a warning — it could be clamped, fined and eventually towed.
And with seven motorcycles already caught on the first day, motorists have been given an early indication of how seriously the municipality intends to enforce the new rule.
WWC ONE MEDIA MJE
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