Poe hits back at DOTr over rebuttal on issuance of PMVIC memo

Senator Grace Poe on Thursday hit back at the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for belying her statement that no formal order had been issued to discontinue the mandatory vehicle testing by private vehicle inspection centers (PMVICs).

In a statement, Poe, who heads the Senate Committee on Public Services, cried foul over the DOTr's rebuttal of her statement on Wednesday that the DOTr and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) have yet to come out with issuances formalizing the optional testing in PMVICs.

According to Transportation Assistant Secretary Goddess Hope Libiran, what Poe said "is not true" as she pointed out that as early as February 11, LTO chief Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante had already issued a memorandum to all LTO regional officials and personnel that testing of motor vehicles in PMVICs is no longer mandatory.

This means that inspections may be performed again by LTO inspectors, and emission testing be conducted by private emission testing centers.

While she appreciates that clarification from the DOTr, Poe said the filing of the unnumbered memorandum and uploading it on the LTO website two days ago is "hardly the formal notice that a Senate Committee usually receives especially for a pressing issue that has recently been subject of a huge public hearing."

The DOTr, she added, had all the time from the day the committee report was filed and made public on February 16 until its sponsorship on the Senate floor on Wednesday to notify the panel about its action.

The senator also pointed out that since the memorandum was addressed only to LTO regional directors and employees, it is "not the notice that the inconvenienced public deserves."

"The function of an administrative issuance is to inform not only its personnel, but more importantly, the general public who stands to be affected by the issuance. This function was not complied with by the piece of paper released by the LTO it plainly denominated as a 'Memorandum,'" Poe said.

Poe said that in issuing the memorandum, the DOTr only responded to one of the many issues involving PMVICs.

"The Committee could only hope that the DOTr is as quick to refute the findings of corruption and irregularities as regards the operation of PMVICs as it is to point to an unnumbered document strategically tucked away in its website. When all is said and done, the DOTr still owes the public an explanation," she said.

In the end, Poe said that what the public should wait is whether a permanent relief can be expected from the repeal of DOTr Department Order 2018-019, which privatizes motor vehicle inspection system, and all its related issuances.

"As the [committee] report recommended, while the fees have been lowered for now and testing seems to have been made optional, the implementation of this flawed program must be stopped definitively pending the resolution of issues hounding it," she said.

Poe earlier called for the suspension of the operation of private motor vehicle inspection centers amid lingering issues to the detriment of motorists at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under the LTO memorandum laying out the guidelines for the new system, PMVICs are authorized to collect an inspection fee of P1,800 from 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.—LDF, GMA News