COA wants LTO execs charged for failed project

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Audit (COA) wants charges filed against officials and personnel of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) who failed to fully implement its P437.9-million Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS) program.

In a 2017 report released last week, state auditors said the MVIS equipment remained unutilized due to poor planning.

Records showed that 11 sets of MVIS equipment worth P209.4 million were bought in 2008 and 2009 prior to securing funding for the construction of the buildings to house these equipment and solve interconnectivity issues.

“The project’s objectives of improved air quality and reduced traffic accidents were not achieved, thereby depriving road users of greater vehicle reliability and reduced running costs and resulting in lost income and wastage of government funds,” state auditors said.

The COA report said the MVIS project was intended to be the national network of Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers (MVICs) using automated inspection methods, which will be linked to the information system of the LTO to improve the efficiency and transparency of motor vehicle inspection in the country. 

However, records showed that the MVIS equipment remained uninstalled or only partially used.

State auditors said the issue has been reported in previous audit reports to request funding for the completion of MVIC buildings and repair of defective equipment.

The audit team said the LTO management should address the issues and, among others, conduct inspection and evaluation of the MVIS equipment and determine the remedies for its maintenance to recover the investment made by government.

LTO executive director Romeo Vera Cruz said they would file criminal and administrative complaints against those responsible for the ineffective implementation of the MVIS project under the Arroyo administration. 

“We will look into it. We will initiate criminal and administrative complaints against officials behind the project if evidence warrants,” Vera Cruz said. 

He said they would conduct an investigation to determine if the officials involved in the project are still connected with the LTO. – With Robertzon Ramirez