The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and Land Transportation Office (LTO) are looking to activate by end-August some 32 private motor vehicle inspection centers (PMVICs) to speed up emissions inspection of vehicles applying for registration.
The PMVIC Authorization Committee (AC) is fast tracking ocular inspections of PMVICs to check if they are in compliance with standards. PMVIC AC formulates guidelines and procedures governing PMVICs, and evaluates their conformity with requirements for authority to operate.
PMVICs are privately owned automated vehicle inspection facilities that check compliance with emission standards and roadworthiness, a requirement prior to a vehicle’s registration.
READ: DOTr looking to accredit private MVICs by 2020
Of the 138 identified sites, 113 have already been awarded to private operators, with 25 sites still for awarding, said DOTr assistant secretary for procurement and project implementation and head of PMVIC AC Giovanni Lopez.
“We have been conducting ocular inspections, despite travel limitations due to COVID-19, to determine the readiness of these sites,” Lopez said in a statement.
He said one requirement they are looking at is compatibility and connectivity with the LTO Information Technology (IT) system.
Set to operate this August are PMVICs in the following sites in Luzon:
- Region 1: San Fernando City, La Union; Vigan, Ilocos Sur; Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; within Lingayen and Alaminos, Pangasinan
- Region 3: Angeles City, Pampanga
- Region 4A: Dasmariñas, Cavite; San Pedro, Laguna
- Region 4B: Calapan, Oriental Mindoro
- National Capital Region: Pasig City; Valenzuela City
- Region 5: Pamplona, Camarines Sur; Pili, Camarines Sur; Sorsogon City; and Daet, Camarines Norte
In the Visayas, PMVIC will operate in the following sites:
- Region 6: Roxas City, Capiz
- Region 7: Mandaue City, Cebu (2 sites); Danao City, Cebu; Naga City, Cebu; Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental (2 sites); Tagbilaran City, Bohol; Tubigon, Bohol; Bais City, Negros Oriental
- Region 8: Maasin City, Southern Leyte; and Ormoc City, Leyte
For Mindanao, motorists will soon be able to have their motor vehicle inspected at the following PMVIC sites:
- Region 9: Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay
- Region 10: Iligan City, Lanao del Norte; Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental
- Region 11: Mati City, Davao Oriental; Panabo City, Davao del Norte
- Region 12 General Santos City, Cotabato
Following activation of the 32 PMVICs by end-August, 29 PMVICs are targeted to be operational in September, 14 in October, three in November, five in December, and 25 by January 2021.
“The operationalization of the remaining awarded sites (30 PMVICs) will be for further determination,” Lopez noted.
Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade underscored the benefits of an automated inspection system in determining a vehicle’s roadworthiness. He said that with automated inspection, machines will be used, providing more accurate results.
And with limited human intervention, there will be no more opportunities for corruption, Tugade explained.
LTO assistant secretary Edgar Galvante said the agency is likewise fast tracking preparation of its IT system to accommodate and process results from the PMVICs.
“We have been testing the LTO IT system and its connectivity with that of the inspection centers to identify issues, and iron out glitches. This is to ensure that once operational, the transaction process will be smooth and efficient,” the LTO chief said.
DOTr in February 2019 issued Department Order 2019-002, the revised order on the privatization of MVICs through authorization. Transport undersecretary for road transport and infrastructure Mark Richmund De Leon earlier said the private sector will establish MVICs much faster than government given the latter’s tedious procurement process.
