Web cams for emission test centers

An association of private emission test centers (PETCs) urged government agencies yesterday to install web cameras to allow for monitoring of procedures and eliminate corruption.

George Bian, president of the Mindanao Visayas Union of PETCs (MVP), said the industry’s most serious problems are the proliferation of Certificates of Emission (CEC) coming mainly from fixers and irregularities in the operations of a few PETCs, particularly on the issue of "non appearances" or "no-shows." A no-show is the practice of issuing a CEC without the vehicle actually undergoing the emission tests at a PETC. This kind of practice takes place with the connivance among erring personnel of a PETC, the vehicle owner seeking register and a fixer.

About 30 percent of the testing centers are in the provinces, while the rest are in Metro Manila, Bian said.

Concerned government agencies, including the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Private Emission Test Centers Operators Association (PETCOA) have been working together to effect the compliance of the Clean Air Act, particularly the integrity of emission tests of motor vehicles, Bian, also the vice president of PETCOA pointed out.

PETCOA and MVP strongly recommended, in a position paper submitted during a congressional hearing on the Clean Air Act last April 25, 2005, that the government adopt and utilize the Clean Air Act Systems -Web Cam Digital Vehicle Image Capturing Device inside all test centers nationwide, including those owned and operated by the government.

The system involves the use of web cameras or digital cameras to prevent corruption and no-shows, Bian explained.

Under the setup, a web cam is installed inside the center to take an actual photograph of the motor vehicle tested. The photo will be electronically attached to the certificate, proof that the vehicle was actually tested.

"This may not totally eliminate all no-shows, but will definitely reduce the irregularity significantly," Bian said. "This will also result in better quality of customer service and better air quality as well as even the playing field for reputable PETCs since competitiveness will be based on the PETCs ability to provide efficient service to patrons."

PETCOA and MVP also assured clients that the web cam system will not increase the price of emission testing. The additional costs for the installation of the web cams would be completely shouldered by the operators of the centers.

"This is an indication of the association’s commitment and desire to clean up the industry. We implemented the web cam concept in majority of the cities of Mindanao in 2003, but suspended it because of lack of policy support from government," Bian said.