ILOILO City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) wants the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to delay implementing here a new system in vehicle registration.
The city’s legislative body adopted an ordinance urging the deferment of LTO’s new scheme requiring all vehicles to undergo and pass inspection in accredited motor vehicle inspection centers prior to registration.
“This is not the right time for the agency to implement such policy. The coronavirus pandemic still persists,” the SP stated.
The councilors also questioned LTO’s readiness, pointing out that it has only two authorized private motor vehicle inspection centers (PMVIC) in this southern city.
Councilor Romel Duron, proponent of the resolution, said LTO should reconsider its plan.
“Mga 99 percent of the jeepneys diri indi gid makabyahe. Ang mga jeepneys ta ginapasad lang so wala ina sang mga hand break. Ang speedometer nila wala na ga-register. Most jeepneys have been there for almost 30 to 40 years,” said Duron who chairs the city’s committee on transportation and public utilities.
Under LTO’s new motor vehicle registration system, not less than 60 parts of the vehicle should pass the inspection.
Should one part fail, it must be replaced or repaired, then re-inspected. Another inspection fee has to be paid for the second inspection – half of the amount paid for the first inspection – otherwise the vehicle won’t be able to proceed to registration.
The establishment and operation of PMVIC is mandated by LTO Memorandum Circular No. 2018-2158, and the motor vehicle inspection requirement is in line with Republic Act 4136 (Land Transportation and Traffic Code) and the Clean Air Act.
While the inspection aims to ensure road safety, Duron opined that the LTO should first focus on educating drivers, passengers and pedestrians. He noted that most road accidents were due to reckless driving, drunk driving, over speeding, illegal overtaking, among others.
“Kinahanglanon gid bala ini nga iduso sang LTO ang PMVIC? Well, the intention is good – road safety but statistics shows nga kalabanan sang aksidente is not due to the condition of the vehicle but the operator or the driver,” said Duron.
Councilor Lyndon Acap, for his part, believes LTO’s memorandum circular is not viable in Iloilo City. He suggested to his fellow councilors to make a legislation countering it.
“This will be superseded by our local ordinance. I think we have referred to the committee [on transportation]. We will invite the City Legal Office if we could pass legislation,” Acap said.
“If this thing will be implemented, I think this city will become a ghost city. The road will be empty,” he added.
Councilor Ely Estante, meanwhile, said the LTO is mandated to do the job of inspecting vehicles so “why pass it to private inspection centers?”
“During this pandemic time, let us call for the reconsideration of the implementation of this private vehicle inspection. This is an added burden to the residents while we are now suffering from pandemic,” he added.
On the other hand, Councilor Eduardo Peñaredondo said the move is confiscatory for just “three percent” of the jeepneys and “10 percent” of private cars in the city would pass the inspection.
“The economy of the city will collapse. And in the province of Iloilo, there will be anarchy. Gutomon ang syudad sang Iloilo,” he stressed.
The SP is also planning to invite the LTO for a discussion relative to the new policy.
Last week, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Capiz also passed a similar resolution.
It likewise conducted a policy hearing and invited the LTO to shed light on the issue but no official of the agency showed up./PN
