Recto: Show legal basis for ‘revival’ of motor vehicle inspection scheme

(FILE) An automotive technician checks a vehicle in a fully computerized and privately owned Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS) center located in Maysan Road, Valenzuela City, on Wednesday, February 10, 2021.
INQUIRER PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto asked Wednesday the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to show the legal basis for the revival of the motor vehicle inspection scheme that was earlier suspended by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Recto said the LTO and the DOTr should explain to the public the new motor vehicle inspection scheme which, the senator said, was “roused from the dead.”

“It has been put into a coma upon orders of Malacañang. Now it appears that it has mutated into something else,” Recto said in a statement.

“Ang pakiusap lang po natin sa ating mga kaibigan sa LTO at DOTr ay ipaliwanag ang pangangailangan nito at ipakita ang legal na batayan kung bakit binuhay nila ang ganitong programa,” Recto said.

To recall, Duterte earlier suspended the implementation of the scheme, which was a requirement for vehicle registration or renewal of registration, amid complaints from vehicle owners. The call for its suspension was echoed by several lawmakers in Congress.

But under Memorandum Circular No. MC-SC-2021-02 dated July 5, the DOTr set the guidelines for the LTO to only accept motor vehicle inspection reports from private motor vehicle inspection centers (PMVIC) in their designated areas.

“Has the revival of the mothballed PMVIC scheme been given a go-signal by the Office of the President?” Recto asked.

Nonetheless, Recto said that the LTO and DOTr should explain to the public the specificities of the memorandum, including its scope and the fees for the inspections.

“If a car owner will opt for an inspection done by the LTO, are the facilities of the latter adequate? Is this option available all the time, so they will not be shepherded to private testing centers?” Recto said.

“Ang ibig po bang sabihin nito, ang isang LTO district office ay may katambal na suking PMVIC at kailangan po bang mag-detour sa PMVIC bago magpa-rehistro?” he added.

Recto warned that if the scheme is mishandled by the DOTr, “it may tarnish whatever legacy the present administration is trying to build in the transportation sector.”

“There is no debate as to the need to allow only roadworthy vehicles on our highways. Lahat tayo agree doon,” Recto said.

“But to blame every road accident on poorly maintained vehicles in marketing PMVICs not only absolves the culpability of reckless drivers but also the failure of the government to build safe roads,” he added.

/MUF