The Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Office are under harsh criticism as far as the implementation of the Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS) is concerned. If both government agencies are privy to it, then, they must calm down the public uproar and shed light on it.
An enormous number of motor vehicle owners in Luzon and Visayas are strongly against the operation of the Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers (PMVICs) in their respective areas. Various motor groups and organizations have expressed opposition as well.
Last week, the CAMPI and VACC raised nine points in opposing the implementation of the new MVIS by holding a protest action in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
One point is the alleged lack of consultation with stakeholders on the testing procedures before introducing it to the public which commenced a week before December 2020 ended. Also, the presence of a single testing center in some areas with heavy vehicle density produce volumes of unregistered and unrenewed motor vehicles.
Sadly, another concern is that with some 1,000 emission testing centers endangered of closing down soon, more than 20,000 employees will surely become jobless as an offshoot of their closure.
However, what worries many motorists with the MVIS is the exorbitant testing fee of P1,800 for four-wheel vehicles and P600 for motorcycles.
veryone sees the amount as an added financial burden to all vehicle owners who are now adversely affected by the economic crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The worst part of it is that the testing fee could even increase every time the vehicle fails to meet the “roadworthiness” test. Therefore, excellent repairs are needed for the vehicle in order to get a passing grade and be certified as roadworthy.
Clearly, the low-income vehicle owners find this MVIS burdensome. Because their vehicles are old models, more often than not, their motor vehicles won’t pass the test.
Hence, they are forced to spend their hard-earned savings just to register their cars because having a private ride nowadays is a necessity owing to the lack of mass transportation due to the pandemic.
In Ilocos Norte, concerned motor vehicle owners had also voiced out their disappointment and opposition to the testing centers operating in the country citing one in Laoag City.
To demonstrate their sentiments, they staged a peaceful protest caravan around Laoag City on January 31 in full support of their counterparts at the national level.
No less than Ilocos Norte Vice Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos had foreseen the negative effect of the testing system on the lowly owners of old model motor vehicles, many of them may be displaced workers affected by lockdown, quarantine, et cetera.
Provincial Board member Da Vinci Crisostomo announced that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is drafting a resolution addressed to the DOTr and LTO officials asking them to temporarily suspend the implementation of the MVIS in our own province until related issues and concerns are answered and clear to everyone.
Similarly, the city council of Batac headed by Vice Mayor Windell Chua has passed a resolution for the same purpose and intent.
Our local officials are hopeful that their request for suspension of the MVIS implementation is granted as soon as possible. Any delayed action on it may only cause uncertainty and anxiety. (IS)
