Question & AnswerQ&A (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1729)
The main purpose of Presidential Decree No. 1729 is to authorize the Bureau of Land Transportation to dispose of impounded motor vehicles that have been unclaimed by their owners for a certain period of time.
The Director of Land Transportation, his deputy, or any other authorized officer has the authority to impound motor vehicles under this decree.
A motor vehicle must be unreasonably and actually abandoned for a period of six months from the date of apprehension before it can be sold and disposed of.
The owners must be given written notice and the option to redeem the vehicle by paying all necessary charges or choose to participate in the public bidding within fifteen (15) days from receipt of the notice.
The owner must pay storage fees fixed by the Bureau and approved by the Minister of Transportation and Communications, plus a penalty of ₱5.00 per day from the time the vehicle was impounded, not exceeding one-fifth of the vehicle’s appraised value.
The Bureau of Land Transportation fixes the time and place of the public sale, allowing all interested parties to participate in the bidding, and must publish a notice once a week for three consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation.
The proceeds are applied to all liens, fines, fees, penalties, and publication costs, and any remaining balance is returned to the former owners.
It aims to address unnecessary expenses for maintenance and security, as well as risks, harm, and danger caused by abandoned motor vehicles within the Bureau’s compound.
All laws, decrees, letters of instruction, orders, rules, and regulations or any part thereof which conflict with the provisions of this decree are repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
The decree took effect immediately upon its signing on October 7, 1980.