The Vehicle Inspection Center Operators Association of the Philippines (VICOAP) has revealed that 47.3% of the public utility vehicles it tested failed to meet brake safety standards.
The inspections were conducted nationwide between January and September of 2025. From the data shared, the non-profit organization tested over 1.71 million vehicles, concluding that 737,215 commuter units operate with substandard brake systems.
This year, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has rolled out its Road Safety Action Plan, with one of its main pillars focused on verifying and ensuring the roadworthiness of all vehicles. VICOAP aims to include mandatory brake testing for all PUVs, in line with that specific pillar. Overall, the action plan aims to reduce traffic-related deaths by 35% by 2028—a goal which VICOAP shares, as the group attributes several commuter fatalities to faulty brake systems.
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While the figures presented are harrowing, the group’s spokesperson, Atty. Lester Cavestany, firmly expressed the importance of data-driven solutions. He and the organization believe they can support the DOTr and the Land Transportation Office in refining policy and upholding road safety.
“Behind every crash is a preventable failure, and many of them start with the brakes... Our goal is to offer solutions backed by data,” said Cavestany. “Every unsafe vehicle on the road is a risk we can prevent... Brake testing isn’t bureaucracy—it’s a life-saving measure. Every data point we collect represents a family that gets home safely.”
