In a bid to reduce the chances of physical distancing rule violations, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez on Wednesday prodded the Department of Transportation (DoTr) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to suspend until the end of the year the emission testing requirement for those seeking to register their motor vehicles.
(MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
Rodriguez noted that in his own home city, vehicle registration applicants “have to line up very early in the morning to get a number, which takes four to five hours, then they wait until their numbers are called to be given an appointment for their emission test, which is at least two weeks away.”
“It’s a lot of inconvenience on the part of motor vehicle owners, to say the least. These taxpayers deserve better service,” he said.
The Cagayan de Oro congressman said it is these long queues and delays that result in violations of physical or social distancing protocols among registrants and LTO personnel and could eventually lead to a possible increase in COVID-19 cases.
Rodriguez noted that some LTO offices had to lock down because some workers were infected with COVID-19.
“To address this problem and to make registration easier for vehicle owners, the DoTr and the LTO should suspend the emission testing requirement until Dec. 31, 2020,” said the chairman of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments.
He said a suspension will also give the two agencies time “to look into numerous complaints and allegations impropriety against these privately-owned testing centers all over the country."
Rodriguez's proposal is embodied in House Resolution No. 1007 which calls on the House of Representatives to express its collective sense for the suspension of the requirement.