MANILA, Philippines— Senator Richard Gordon on Tuesday asked the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to dismantle a group of private entities allegedly involved in motorcycle registration.
Gordon was referring to manufacturers, assemblers, importers, rebuilders, dealers, and other entities, also known as MAIRDOEs.
“May I request Secretary Castelo and Secretary Lopez to stop this practice immediately. Buwagin dapat yan kaagad,” he said during the hearing of the Senate blue ribbon committee, referring to DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez and Undersecretary Ruth Castelo.
Castelo, who was present in the hearing, answered in the affirmative and promised to coordinate with the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
Before this, Gordon, head of the blue ribbon panel, questioned the authority of the group over motorcycle registration.
“Is that legal? Sa kanila dadaan lahat ang certificate of registration (All certificates of registration should go through them)?” the senator asked.
Responding to the question, Castelo stressed that motorcycle registration belongs to the LTO.
Gordon agreed, lamenting how an “institutional fixing” was seemingly created through the said private entities.
READ: Gordon hits motorcycle dealers for not releasing papers to installment buyers
“Inaalis natin yung fixer, nagkaroon bigla ng glorified fixing,” he said.
(We’re getting rid of the fixer, and there’s suddenly a glorified fixing.)
Transportation Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante, who heads the LTO, vowed to look into the matter though clarified that the registration is not necessarily being limited to distributors and dealers.
“But anyway, Mr. chairman, re-reviewhin po natin ito para mai-adjust natin at mawala yung maaring opportunity ng pandaraya kung meron man po,” he said.
(But anyway, Mr. chairman, we will review this so we can adjust and remove any opportunity for fraud.)
Gordon warned of a possible class suit from motorcycle riders since he said the law clearly states that only LTO is authorized to “deputize law enforcement agencies and not private entities.”
“There is no legal basis in allowing, walang legal basis yan, MAIRDOEs to effect the registration of motor vehicles. Pwede silang maglagay na sama-sama sila pero hindi sila pwedeng tatangap ng rehistro o sila magpaparehistro,” he said.
(They can come together, but they can’t accept registration or can’t register [motorcycles]).
Gordon’s panel has been inquiring on the alleged delayed implementation of a law seen to curb riding-in-tandem killings in the country.
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