LTO to go after dishonest private emission test centers

MANILA, Philippines - Land Transportation Offce (LTO) chief Alberto Suansing on Tuesday ordered the closure of a private emission test center earlier reported to be engaged in the illegal non-appearance operation and assured that more centers will follow. Suansing ordered the closure order of Enviroguard Emission Test Center, located in front of the LTO main office in East Avenue, Quezon City, after it was proven that it issues Certificate of Emission Compliance (CEC) to vehicles even without undergoing actual emission test. No motor vehicle private or public is allowed to renew its registration without undergoing emission test. EnviroGuard Technologies Corporation is among those who were ordered investigated after the LTO found out that it manages to test more than 350 vehicles a day despite being a one-lane PETC (private emission testing center). “Being a one-lane PETC means means it can only test one vehicle at a time,” Suansing said. Suansing said he finds it "incredible" for a single-lane emission test center to accommodate more that 100 vehicles daily because the average time spent to test a vehicle is 10 minutes. PETCs are owned and operated by private entities accredited by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and authorized by the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) to conduct emission testing of all vehicles in accordance with the Clean Air Act. - GMANews.TV