Recto Tirade Seen To Uncover MVIS Revival, LTO Squabble

The call of Senate President Pro Tempore Sen. Ralph Recto questioning the revival of a mutated version of the suspended Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS) is expected to lead to a full-blown investigation that involves the Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers (PMVICs) and their connections to the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Recto, who disclosed the issuance of a memorandum circular that sought to revive the MVIS that was ordered suspended by no less than President Duterte, said in a statement that the LTO “should also clearly specify the scope of the inspection, and the fees for each” as he questioned the provenance of the MVIS that meant additional financial burden for motor vehicle owners.

According to Recto a July 5 DOTr Memorandum Circular No. MC-SC-2021-02, now provides that the LTO will only accept motor vehicle registrations from private motor vehicle inspection centers (PMVICs) in their designated areas, Recto said.

Now, the new MVIS scheme “seems to border on the mandatory”, contrary to the pronouncements of Duterte, Recto added, noting that after the hearings by the Senate, the consensus was not to push through with the MVIS.

He warned that the policy if mishandled by the DOTr, “may tarnish whatever legacy the present administration is trying to build in the transportation sector.” “Why contaminate a nice report card by forcefully ramming a scheme, which as presented, breeds confusion and complications?” the senator added.

“If a car owner will opt for an inspection done by the LTO, are the facilities of the latter adequate? Is this option available all the time, so they will not be shepherded to private testing centers?” Recto asked.

“Ang ibig po bang sabihin nito, ang isang LTO district office ay may katambal na suking PMVIC at kailangan po bang mag-detour sa PMVIC bago magpa-rehistro (Does this mean that an LTO district office has a partner PMVIC that will serve as a detour before registration)?” he further raised.

“There is no debate as to the need to allow only roadworthy vehicles on our highways. Lahat tayo agree doon (We all agree on that). But to blame every road accident on poorly maintained vehicles in marketing PMVICs not only absolves the culpability of reckless drivers but also the failure of the government to build safe roads,” he pointed out.

Senators had questioned the operations of PMVICs noting that existing laws do not provide for the delegation of the MVIS to the private sector.

Motorist groups and car owners also protested the add-on to car registration. Gerry Ardee Urbina from East Greenhills and Mike Nolan Olalia from Valle Verde told TFD that the additional costs should not be imposed on hapless vehicle owners especially with the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic that has led to a record GDP growth of minus 9.5 percent last year.

Also questioned were what the senators said as “highly anomalous” accreditations of the PMVICs by the LTO now wracked with a squabble among officials related to the prior registry of cars

The squabble is centered on a proposed module for MVIRS said to be meant to take out the sting from the complaints that emanated from the vehicle owners for which reason the President ordered that the said inspection system be made optional, and not mandatory as before.

A dissenting opinion from one of the members of the Steering Committee tasked with fine-tuning the MVIRS program has wracked the LTO, which has come under fire for the MVIRS that sought to have vehicles inspected for defects before they are registered.

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