MANILA, Philippines — Senator Grace Poe on Saturday vowed to recommend to the Senate blue ribbon an investigation into the alleged anomalies in the Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers (PMVICs), specifically on the deals of Department of Transportation (DOTr) with the private inspection centers.
This after the Senate committee on public services, which Poe chairs, pursues its report on the PMVIC that will tackle legal questions on the transportation department’s delegation “of the testing to private entities.”
“Iyong magiging recommendation namin unang-una ay kung meron ba talagang legal na batayan iyong privatization ng MVIS [Motor Vehicle Inspection System]. Ito ba ay naayon sa private emission testing centers under the Clean Air Act. Kailangan pag-aralan nang mabuti ng Kongreso at ayusin at linawin ang batas,” she said in an interview with DWIZ.
(We will recommend if there is really a legal basis on the privatization of MVIS. Is it compliant with the Clean Air Act? We need to study this and see to it that it is lawful.)
“Magrerekomenda rin kami na ang Senate blue ribbon committee ay dapat imbestigahan ang mga transaksyon na kaduda-duda dito sa mga Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers, kung sino ba sila at para payagan na walang bidding—ito ay maanomalya sa simula pa lamang,” the senator added. The Senate blue ribbon committee is currently chaired by Senator Richard Gordon.
(We will recommend to Senate blue ribbon committee to investigate transactions of the PMVI centers, who are they and why is it that there is no bidding? These are anomalies.)
Poe said their committee eyes to submit the report on the controversial PMVIC by Monday or Tuesday next week.
Poe warned that passing the mandate of vehicle inspection from DOTr to private sector may have “ legal infirmities.”
It is important to ensure motorists’ safety but government initiatives must still follow the law, Poe also said.
Palace on Friday announced that the motor vehicle inspection system (MVIS) is no longer mandatory, following several senators’ push for its suspension due to the programs’ highly suspicious operation, which could be prone for corruption.