Poe says Senate panel report on vehicle inspection system out next week: 'Walang karapatan ang DOTr'

Senator Grace Poe on Saturday said the Senate Committee on Public Services will submit its panel report on the controversial Motor Vehicle Inspection System next week, amid lingering issues allegedly detrimental to motorists at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a radio interview, the senator said she would submit their report either Monday or Tuesday.

"Doon [sa report] namin idedetalye lahat ng mga nakita natin... Doon natin makikita kung papaano talaga ito ginawa ng [Department of Transportation], kung legal ba o hindi. Sa nakikita ko sa ngayon, at sa nga nadinig ko, mukhang hindi talaga. Wala talagang karapatan ang DOTr," she said.

"Itong weekend na ito naghahanap pa kami ng maaaring mga ibang probisyon na ginagamit nilang kadahilanan. Hintayin na lang natin ang committee report na ilalabas," she added.

Blue ribbon probe

Poe also said her committee will recommend an investigation by the blue ribbon committee on the deals entered into by the DOTr with the private inspection centers.

"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.

"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," she explained.

During last week's public hearing, Poe and several senators questioned the order of the DOTr to require additional vehicle testing to be done by private centers prior to registration. This will make motorists shell out extra P1,500 on top of the usual registration fee, which Poe said was ill-timed amid the pandemic.

This part of the government's privatization of motor vehicle inspection through private motor vehicle inspection centers (PMVICs), with the Land Transportation Office eyeing 138 PMVICs nationwide, with a total of 276 lanes for light vehicles and 276 lanes for motorcycles.

But vehicle inspection is a task mandated of the DOTr and passing it on to the private sector may have legal infirmities, Poe said.

Poe noted that the government will earn a measly P100,000 per year from the private centers, but which in turn, are expected to rake in P6 billion to P8 billion from the motorists' fees.

The senator also reiterated the private testing centers were selected without public bidding.

"Sabihin na natin na maayos naman ang mga taong ito, bakit hindi idinaan sa tamang bidding? Hindi pa rin legal ang pagpili sa kanila, kaya 'yun ang nagiging problema," Poe said. -MDM, GMA News