Vehicle safety check separate from PUV modernization program —DOTr exec

The government’s drive to check vehicles for roadworthiness has “nothing to do” with and is separately implemented from the criticized Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) modernization program, a transportation official said Friday.

“Wala hong kinalaman yung modernisasyon dito ho sa ating kampanya para siguraduhin pong ligtas at roadworthy ang ating mga sasakyan,” said Transportation Undersecretary Tim Orbos in an interview on Unang Balita, when asked about the “Tanggal Bulok, Tanggal Usok” campaign.

Orbos said the campaign, which tests vehicles for compliance with safety and efficiency standards, was long overdue.

“Sa totoo lang po dapat ginagawa na ito noong araw, at nakita po natin ang taas po ng incidents ng mga namatay, naaksidente dahil ho sa napakasimpleng bagay—kalbo yung gulong, walang ilaw, lahat po yan, hindi ho natin binabanggit pa yung danger sa ating kapaligiran dahil sa usok na nakukuha ho natin sa mga sasakyan natin,” he said.

Data from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said a daily average of 299 road crash incidents occurred in Metro Manila roads in 2016. There were 109,322 road crash incidents within the same period, which resulted in the deaths of 446 people.

Orbos said the campaign was simply a test for the roadworthiness of vehicles that ply the country’s roads.

“Kumbaga po tayo ngayon, sinisigurado lang natin [na] ligtas yung mga sasakyan, yung roadworthiness nila, at the same time po umuusad na po yung ating modernization program,” he said.

However, an earlier report quoted Inter-Agency Council on Traffic (i-ACT) Communications and Administrative Services Head Elmer Argano as saying the campaign in question was “in support” of the government’s PUV modernization program, which some transport groups have slammed for being “anti-poor.”

Orbos also clarified sanctions for vehicles found to be non-compliant with safety standards, saying the penalties depend on the violation.

Vehicles apprehended for falling short of such standards — if they have bald tires or are missing lights, for example — will have their registration papers checked, he said. If the registration is discovered to be expired, then the vehicle would be impounded.

However, if the violation involves smoke emission, the driver will be ticketed and required to go through a smoke emission test, he said.

“Kasama rin ho diyan yung pagbablacklist namin kung sakaling yung mga smoke emission centers ay may kinalaman bat sila [drivers or operators] nabigyan ng approval or clearance,” he said.

“Actually, ‘yung P10,000 [supposed payment to redeem impounded vehicles] di ho namin alam [kung] saan nanggaling ‘yun,” he added.

The “Tanggal Bulok, Tanggal Usok” campaign started on Monday, on three major Metro Manila roads: the Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, Commonwealth Avenue, and Marcos Highway. — Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/MDM, GMA News