Tugade to LTO: Put on hold mandatory PMVIC testing

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has shelved the implementation of the mandatory private motor vehicle inspection center (PMVIC) testing until issues on the so-called geographic areas of responsibility (GAOR) are fully resolved.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade ordered the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to put on hold the implementation of a memorandum, which directed LTO regional offices to adopt the mandatory PMVIC testing within GAOR.

Tugade instructed the LTO to maintain the previous registration process wherein motorists could choose between a PMVIC or a private emission testing center (PETC) for the required vehicle inspection.

He also directed the LTO to conduct an immediate and exhaustive review of the policy, given various issues surrounding the implementation of GAOR for the registration of light vehicles and motorcycles.

“Secretary Tugade recognizes the need for a smoother and more efficient manner of implementation of the GAOR policy while also taking into consideration the COVID-19 pandemic, which hampers the required vehicle registration process,” the DOTr said in a statement.

“In listening to the inputs of stakeholders in the PMVIC program, Secretary Tugade calls for sobriety and unity to address the issues regarding this important road transport policy of enhancing vehicle road worthiness inspection,” the agency said.

The DOTr issued last July 5 Memorandum Circular 2021-02, outlining how the LTO will establish the GAOR for every authorized PMVIC for renewal of registration to define areas covered by each facility.

The LTO, in a memorandum dated Aug. 6, came out with a list of GAOR for authorized PMVICs. The memo stated that the “conduct of inspection of motor vehicles prior to registration by PMVICs should be mandatory in their respective GAOR.”

Under the mandatory setup, motor vehicle owners in areas not under the GAOR may still choose to have their vehicles undergo emission testing at a PETC and roadworthiness inspection at an LTO office.

Ocular roadworthiness inspection for heavy vehicles are done by LTO personnel and the emission testing by the PETC within the same GAOR.

Sen. Grace Poe has called out the DOTr following complaints over the implementation of the Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS).

Tugade admitted that there would be birth pains with the PMVIC policy, saying that what is important is to ensure that a long term, modern and most effective vehicle inspection system is in place.

“In order to keep our roads safe, the DOTr believes we need to have better standards to check the roadworthiness of vehicles. This is the principal reason why we are continuously advocating for inspection of motor vehicles,” he said.

The DOTr reiterated that PMVICs conduct 72-point full roadworthiness test for vehicles, including emission test, unlike in PETCs, where only the smoke emission is being tested, and not road worthiness.

The DOTr said it was able to convince PMVIC owners to lower their inspection rate from P1,500 to P600 for light vehicles and P500 for motorcycles, which are similar to rates collected by PETCs. Reinspection or retest fees were also waived.

Citing a legal opinion of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) dated March 18, the DOTr said the agency and LTO have authority to ensure the roadworthiness of vehicles and consequently implement the MVIS.

Under Administrative Code of 1987 and Executive Order 125-A, the DOTr is allowed to call on any corporation or organization, whether public or private, to participate and assist in the implementation of transportation programs.

“According to OSG, the MVIS is only outsourced, operated under a private sector participation agreement, but the government still has direct control and supervision of the roadworthiness testing and motor vehicle registration,” the DOTr said.