As motorists continue to cry foul over the motor vehicle inspection system, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Thursday appealed to operators of private vehicle inspection centers (PMVICs) to lower their collection fees as well as to suspend their re-inspection fees for at least one year.
In a press release on Thursday, Transportation Sec. Arthur Tugade said that PMVICs should lower their fees to the same rates being offered by Private Emission Testing Centers (PETCs) which is around P500 to P800.
“Ako ay umaapela at nakikiusap sa mga PMVIC owners— Ipakita at iparamdam ninyo ang pakikiisa ninyo sa administrasyong Duterte. Babaan ninyo ang inspection fee ninyo, i-lebel ninyo sa kasalukuyang singil ng mga PETC, at i-waive ninyo ang reinspection fee habang may pandemya. With this, we are not sacrificing the more stringent process of ensuring vehicles are checked for roadworthiness prior to registration. But we are also avoiding putting additional burdens on motorists,” Tugade said.
The DOTr said that Tugade made the appeal after “learning of the sentiments of Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go to strike a balance between keeping the roads safe by disallowing not roadworthy vehicles from being registered with the LTO, and the financial difficulties being experienced by many vehicle owners at present due to the coronavirus pandemic.”
“Ang sabi ng palasyo, let us strike a balance between public safety and the needs of our countrymen, especially now that we are in a pandemic. Nakikiisa ako sa layuning ito ng ating pamahalaan. I will work for and with them to achieve this purpose,” Tugade said.
The Senate committee on public services earlier conducted an inquiry into the operations of PMVICS.
As reported by One News, the committee chaired by Sen. Grace Poe asked officials from the LTO and DOTr to provide them with the list of individuals who operate PMVICs following reports that they are owned or controlled by some high-ranking politicians.
During the inquiry, Poe pointed out that the DOTr and LTO removed an anti-corruption provision from their guidelines that prohibits any official of either agencies to engage or have a stake in PMVICs and similar businesses. The senator also questioned why the LTO insisted on rolling out the MVIS for private vehicles when public utility vehicles (PUVs) and large trucks that should be inspected first for roadworthiness.
PMVICs are authorized to collect an inspection fee of P1,800 for motor vehicles weighing 4,500 kilograms or less. Motorists will have to pay a re-inspection fee of P900 if the vehicle fails the initial test. For motorcycles and tricycles, they are charged P600 for the inspection fee and P300 for re-inspection, if necessary.