Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur P. Tugade has directed the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to put on hold the implementation of the mandatory motor vehicle inspection system until issues have been fully resolved.

In a statement on Tuesday, Aug. 24, Tugade ordered LTO regional offices to conduct an “exhaustive review” of its memorandum to adopt the mandatory Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Center (PMVIC) testing within Geographic Areas of Responsibility (GAOR) for the registration of light vehicles and motorcycles.

Pending review of the policy, Tugade told the LTO to maintain its previous registration process where motorists can choose between PMVICs or Private Emission Testing centers (PETCs) for the required vehicle inspection.

The statement appears to be in response to the privilege speech of Sen. Grace Poe who said that the implementation of the PMVIC still continues despite unresolved cases and despite its being an anti-poor policy amid the pandemic.

In the present setup, motor vehicle owners in areas not under the GAOR may still choose to have their vehicles undergo emission testing at a PETC and roadworthiness inspection at an LTO office.

Further, ocular roadworthiness inspection for heavy vehicles or those with gross weight equal to 4501 kgs and above will be done by LTO personnel, and emission testing by the PETC, within the same GAOR

The DOTr chief emphasized the need to have better standards to check the roadworthiness of vehicles, adding that it will continue to advocate the conduct of strict inspections of motor vehicles.

"Unroadworthy vehicles remain as death traps. And as one of the crucial factors to enhancing road safety, ensuring the roadworthiness of vehicles cannot be postponed," he said.

Tugade also called for sobriety and unity to address the issues and concerns regarding this "very important road transport policy of enhancing vehicle roadworthiness inspection."

"Though roadworthiness is not the cure-all for road crashes, it is one of the pillars of road safety. Thus, we remain firm in our commitment to address the roadworthiness requisite prior to renewal of vehicle registration," Tugade said.

While there will be "birth pains" with the PMVIC policy, Tugade noted that it is more important to ensure that a long-term, more modern, and most effective vehicle inspection system is in place.

According to the DOTr, PMVICs conduct a 72-point full roadworthiness test for vehicles including an emission test, unlike PETCs where only the smoke emission is being tested and not roadworthiness.

Tugade added that the Department was able to convince PMVIC owners to lower their inspection rate from P1,500 to P600 for light vehicles, and P500 for motorcycles, which are similar to rates collected by a PETC. Fees for reinspection or retest were also waived.