The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has decided to open up applications for an additional 200 private motor vehicle inspection centers (PMVICs) to be able to accommodate the millions of registered vehicles in the country.
Mark Steven Pastor, DOTr assistant secretary for road transport and infrastructure, announced the move during a recent virtual presser on February 2. “Nagpalabas na po ang kagawaran ng LTO (Land Transportation Office) at DOTr ng memorandum circular kung saan tayo ay magdaragdag ng 200 additional site ng motor vehicle inspection centers,” he said.
Of the initial 138 inspection facilities approved by the two agencies under DOTr Memorandum Circular 2019-9, 115 were awarded to private entities.
From the 115, only 24 are now operational, although 13 of them have yet to be given the authority to operate by the DOTr after they failed the LTO’s evaluation. “Ito po ay patunay lang na patuloy ang pagbubukas at pagdaragag ng MVIC facilities para po mailunsad itong programa,” Pastor stressed.
Meanwhile, LTO chief Edgar Galvante assured motorists that private emission testing centers (PETCs) will be allowed to operate in areas where PMVICs have yet to be activated. However, the emission testing procedure must be accompanied by a visual roadworthiness check at an LTO branch.
NOTE: This article first appeared on TopBikes.ph. Minor edits have been made.
