LTO under fire for privatizing vehicle inspection services

MANILA, Philippines — The Land Transportation Office (LTO) defended the privatization of motor vehicle inspection centers (PMVICs) following public backlash over the new system required for car registration in the country.

LTO chief Edgar Galvante said all cars would need to undergo inspection using the PMVIC equipment that can evaluate car performance and roadworthiness.

“All vehicles that need to be registered have to go through the process to determine whether  registration will be renewed. Previously, there was a policy that vehicles 15 years or older can no longer be registered. But now, the basis (for renewal is the) roadworthiness of the vehicle rather than the age,” he said in Filipino over CNN Philippines.

He noted that certificates of roadworthiness would be issued to car owners who pass the inspection, which will be presented to LTO for the renewal of car registrations.

Galvante said the public needs to see the “reasonableness of the inspections,” claiming that this would help reduce injuries and deaths from road crashes and accidents.

Fees for the inspection range between P1,500 to P1,800, which the public said is too exorbitant and determined without consultation.

Galvante said this price was reasonable enough as PMVIC operators also need to get back their investments and ensure the feasibility of their operations, adding that the government does not have the capability to run its own MVICs due to lack of funding.

There are only 24 PMVICs currently running nationwide, out of the 138 centers that will be opened. For areas that still have no PMVICs, the current system of emission testing and LTO inspections will be undertaken and honored for car registrations.

However, these two tests will not be interchangeable with the PMVIC inspection.

Aside from high fees, some say that there was no consultation made to determine the integrity of these PMVICs.

Others alleged that even brand new vehicles failed the testing of these PMVICs, which they said was done to extort more fees from motorists.

Galvante said that any such allegation or complaint of extortion or abuse from PMVICs should be immediately forwarded to the LTO for investigation.