LTO chief defends vehicle inspection hubs under shadow of looming probe

Land Transportation Office chief Edgar Galvante defended the rollout of Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers amid calls for a Senate inquiry over the additional fees imposed on motorists.

At the Laging Handa briefing on Thursday, Galvante said they are not considering to suspend the measure that allows private entities to set up the inspection centers for vehicle’s registration.

"Sa ngayon po wala dahil ‘yan po ang kailangan para tingnan kung ang sasakyan ay dapat nga pong i-renew ang kanilang registration,” said Galvante, who is also a Transportation assistant secretary.

Earlier, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) planned a rollout of 138 Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers nationwide.

On Wednesday, Senator Grace Poe called for an inquiry into the program due to the additional fees imposed on motorists amid the financial struggle of Filipinos due to the pandemic.

“The intention behind the law is noble, but the fees following its implementation cannot come at a worse time in the middle of a pandemic where people are barely getting by and now have to add another item in their list of expenses,” Poe said in Senate Resolution No. 634.

As chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, Poe called out the P1,800 inspection fee for motor vehicles weighing 4,500 kilograms or less.

“If the vehicle fails the test, it will be required to undergo necessary repairs and taken back to the private inspection centers where the motorist is charged an additional P900 reinspection fee to obtain clearance. Motorcycles and tricycles are [also] charged P600 for the inspection fee and P300 for the reinspection fee," Poe explained.

"Isipin mo naman, pati mga naghahanapbuhay na magde-deliver at namamasada, pipigaan pa natin ng pera,” she said. "E ‘di wala na silang naiuwi sa pamilya nila."

Galvez pointed out that the requirement of inspection has been a requirement for years.

"Walang galang na po, actually 'yung requirement ng motor vehicle inspection, hindu po yan ngayon lang," Galvante said.

According to him, the establishment of inspection centers was actually planned by the government during the 1990s. However, he pointed out that the facilities available were outdated.

“Sa paghahangad na makapag-put up tayo muli nito ay naisipan na baka mga private entities ang may kakayahan na sila ang mag-finance ng facilities nito,” he said. —LBG, GMA News