NO SUSPENSION OF MC 2018-2158

THE regional director of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) has challenged the Dagupan City councilors to sue his agency in court for the implementation of the controversial Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Center (PMVIC).

Lawyer Teofilo Guadiz III told the virtual forum of the KBP that if the vehicle of a Dagupeño is unregistered and it travels to Metro Manila, the owner has to pay P12,000 penalty once caught by law enforcers.

“Can the members of the city council (of Dagupan) shoulder the penalty of the erring vehicle owner because they wanted the mayor to stop its implementation?,” Guadiz asked.

He added that before they should come up with such resolution, “study it first, like the Helmet Law, so you will not be an embarrassment to the people.”

Guadiz recalled the helmet ordinance adopted by the SP and was deemed illegal by the court.

He refuted claims that the PMVIC had no basis and merely a product of imagination, stressing that it was the result of the enforcement of two national laws passed by Congress, one of which is Republic Act No. 3146 or the Land Transportation. Code of the Philippines, as well as the Clean Air Act, both of which intended to ensure that only road worthy vehicles are allowed to travel along the roads in order the minimize polluted air and accidents.

The new motor vehicle inspection program includes a 70-point automated roadworthiness and emission compliance tests based on international standards, and vehicles must pass such tests as a prerequisite for LTO registration.

Guadiz said a similar resolution was passed by the city council of San Fernando in La Union requesting their mayor to suspend the PMVIC implementation.

But Guadiz said the mayor did not act on it because “there was no local ordinance violated”.

“…And then you will require them now to stop this because of a violation of what? What law was violated by the PMVIC?,” Guadiz asked again.

He said some people claim this is a big burden to them.

“But the issue is the legality,” he said, adding that those against its implementation can go to court and challenge it.

Guadiz, however, agreed with the suggestion that the price being charged for vehicle inspection by PMVIC should be lowered on account of the economic crisis caused by the pandemic.

But he said it should be brought to the DOTr which set the price for inspection uniform to all PMVICs throughout the country.

At the same time, Guadiz said that there will be eight more PMVICs to be set up in Pangasinan soon to ensure that each of the six districts will have one, including three more PMVICs for jeepneys and buses.

Since there are no PMVICs for jeepneys and buses yet, Guadiz allowed them to still go to private emission testing centers before renewing their registration with LTO.

As to private emission testing centers sidelined by the operations of PMVICs, he suggested to them to group themselves and set up one PVMIC but it must be accredited by LTO. (Leonardo Micua/Eva Visperas)

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