Operators of private emission testing centers on Tuesday slammed the Department of Transportation for revoking their permits to operate.
At a news conference in Quezon City, Hilario Pitpo, Clean Air Movement of the Philippines Inc. president, said Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade had directed the cancellation of their permits without even prior notification.
About 1,500 PETCs nationwide would be affected by the order with 10,000 workers losing their jobs, he said.
At least 750 PETCs have been ordered closed, he added.
Tugade earlier warned the suspension or cancellation of permits of PETCs due to increasing number of violations, “a clear manifestation of their defiance to (sic) the law.”
Pitpo denied the allegations of Tugade.
“We have been operating for 17 years to help implement the Clean Air Act,” he told the conference.
“We have consistently complied with the guidelines of the government,” he stressed.
Ariel Inton, Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection founding president, and the group’s legal counsel said CAMPI is not an enemy of the government.
“They are just expressing their concerns. We are hoping that DOTr, as well as the Land Transportation Office, would heed their plea not to revoke their permits,” he said.
The group also questioned the privatization of the motor vehicle inspection system for common carriers and the use of Euro 4 standards as an MVIS criterion.