During a Senate finance subcommittee meeting on the Department of Transportation (DOTR) budget, Sen. Grace Poe chided the Land Transportation Office (LTO) over the confusing order by LTO chief Asec. Edgar Galvante.
The LTO said it will issue a memorandum to clarify to the public that the mandatory vehicle inspection centers (PMVICs) remain suspended.
“With PMVIC, there’s a problem due to the releases of Asec. Galvante, it would appear that PMVICs are still being required now,” said Poe.
A dismayed Poe called out the indecorum of the LTO for failing to issue a formal memorandum that PMVICs remains optional and not mandatory, resulting in confusion and chaos among motorists in the different regions.
She questioned the priority of LTO, asking if the agency is really bent on ensuring the roadworthiness of vehicles or it’s just in fact disregarding due process because of financial gains.
The senator referred to the questionable bidding of the PMVICs that didn’t go through due process normally required of a public-private partnership.
Poe described the PMVICs as “a big mall” compared to private emission testing centers (PETCs) that are like “sari-sari” stores which are less modernized but meet minimum standards.
Galvante admitted that he had previously issued a guideline on the mandatory PMVICs, but withdrew it due to the directive of DOTR Secretary Arthur Tugade.
“The mandatory requirement for PMVIC is still suspended and right now, the basis should be the choice of a motorist, that would be accepted by the LTO,” said Galvante.
This means vehicle owners can choose where to test the road worthiness of his or her vehicle. The testing can be done in the PMVIC or any PETC.
Poe also slammed the LTO for coming out with several circulars on this matter that have been confusing to motorists.
According to Galvante, car registration in the LTO is no longer based on the “age” of a vehicle, but on its road worthiness.
And the road worthiness of a vehicle can be properly evaluated if it will go through a motor vehicle inspection system wherein the 72 parts of a vehicle will be checked, including emission.
In the entire country, there are 72 PMVIC which are operational and 808 PETCs.
Poe said “just imagine, motorists whose vehicles will be inspected will be
packed in 72 centers, while there are 808 PETCs available for them.”
“Nobody has been telling you to stop PMVIC, but give an option to motorists and do not give them confusing policies,” stressed Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services.
The senator asked for the intervention of Tugade who himself admitted that there is a lapse in communication within the agency and agreed with Poe that PMVICs should not be mandatory and motorists should have the freedom to exercise their option.
