Recto flags ‘overreach’ of LTO mandate in ‘privatizing’ MVIS

Senator Ralph Recto. INQUIRER file photo / EDWIN BACASMAS

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto on Tuesday flagged a possible “overreach” in the mandate of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in the “privatization” of the Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS).

During a hearing of the Senate public services committee, Recto said he found no existing law that would authorize the LTO to privatize the inspection program.

“Hindi maliwanag sakin anong batas, what law, tell me, authorizes you to do this to privatize these testing centers? Meron bang batas? Ang tingin ko diyan overreach masyado ‘yan e,” Recto asked.

(It is not clear to me what law, tell me, what law  authorizes you to do this to privatize these testing centers? Is there a law? What I think of it is that you are overreaching.)

“I’ve read all the documents you’ve submitted and you’ve cited many EOs [executive orders], many other laws na walang maliwanag dun [that is not very clear],” he added.

Recto told LTO that it could have just reached out to Congress for funding so that the government agency can sustain the operations of motor vehicle inspection centers.

“Bakit di na lang kayo pumunta ng Kongreso para sabihin sa ‘tin to na kailangan natin ito? Kasi wala akong nakikitang batas na nagsasabi na binibigyan kayo ng kapangyarhian na i-privatize ninyo,” he said.

(Why don’t you just go to Congress and ask that we really need this? Because I see no law that says you have the power to privatize.)

LTO Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante told the senator that they did ask for more funding from Congress and even the Road Board.

But Recto, in response, said he does not recall the Department of Transportation (DOTr) “coming to Congress or to the Senate asking a budget for this or to realign, or to pass a law authorizing you to do this.”

“Wala e, pinag-ispan lang ninyo ito, kayo kayo lang ang gumawa nito [There is none, you just come up with this, you alone made this up],” the senator said.

Earlier, Recto called for the suspension of the operation of Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers (PMVICs) “until a comprehensive public consultation is conducted.”

The DOTr and LTO plan to roll out a total of 138 PMVICs nationwide.

PMVICs are authorized to collect an inspection fee of P1,800 from motor vehicles weighing 4,500 kilograms or less and another P900 for reinspection in case it fails the first one.

Motorcycles and tricycles, on the other hand, are charged a P600-inspection fee and P300-reinspection fee, if necessary.

A miscellaneous fee of P1,800 are also collected for motor vehicle modification, miscellaneous transactions, and recovered carnapped vehicle, according to Recto’s resolution.

The Senate public services committee, chaired by Senator Grace Poe, is looking into the operation of the PMVIC following complaints of motorists about higher fees.

“Many taxpayers find it truly difficult to accept that DOTr and LTO opted to privatize the MVIC allegedly due to shortage of funds. It had access to the MVUC (motor vehicle users charge) funds for decades before it was abolished,” Poe said as she opened the hearing.

JPV