MANILA, Philippines - The Land Transportation Office-National Capital Region will wage war against erring private emission testing centers (PETCs) that conduct anomalous mandatory car smoke emission testing which is blamed for smoke-belching vehicles proliferating in Metro Manila.
Lawyer Teofilo Guadiz III, LTO-NCR director, said they will seek to identify PETCs that still persist to engage in so-called “non-appearance” cases wherein unscrupulous PETCs issue certificates of compliance (COCs) to motor vehicle owners even if their motor vehicles did not undergo smoke testing. Guadiz said that the priority being given to identify, and padlock erring PETCs engaging in NA cases, was brought about by his observation of the seeming large number of black smoke-spewing vehicles littering the streets and highways of Metro Manila.
With a promise to leave no stone unturned and not to spare any sacred cow in the process, Guadiz vowed to cause the permanent closure and revocation of permits to those who will be found doing unscrupulous practices. “We have already strengthened our Regional PETC monitoring group and are closely working with the (LTO) central office to immediately zero-in on the culprits and have sent out show cause orders to suspected centers,” said Guadiz.