The integrity of the Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Center (PMVIC) remains questionable up until this day. This led to protests from motorists stating that the program should be scrapped for good. It also prompted the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to suspend the mandatory use of PMVIC inspections.
The PMVIC program gets questioned by CCAAP
Now, the Coalition of Clean Air Advocates of the Philippines (CCAAP) is joining the fray as it believes that the PMVIS does not conform to the lawful intent and purpose of the Republic Act 8749 or the Clean Air Act.
In a report by CarGuide PH, the CCAAP said that the DOTr continuously refers to the Clean Air Act to justify the PMVIS program. However, it did not include two fundamental agencies to help the program conform to RA 8749, namely the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Without the DTI, its role of promoting automotive product standards for environmental and consumer protection is not included in the program. This is the same case for DENR’s duty of promoting emission and equipment standards for vehicle emission testing.
Here are some regulations the current PMVIS does not follow with the Philippine National Standards or PNS as per CCAAP:
- The testing of headlights does not consider whether the headlights are built for right-hand drive or left-hand drive.
- The testing of exhaust emissions does not consider the presence of emission control devices on engines configured for Euro-4/IV emission compliance. For diesel vehicles, the inspection procedure does not consider the required sealing of fuel delivery devices.
- Noise pollution measurement in the said PMVIC inspection standard does not follow the existing DENR-EMB regulation on allowable noise pollution level; Etcetera.
The DOTr is said to have taken the matter into its own hands
The CCAAP also noted that if the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) was involved in the PMVIC, the right test fee in consideration of various aspects will be implemented. This should help prevent the program from receiving backlashes over what motorists describe as unreasonable test fee pricing.
“As far as the developments go, DOTr was lambasted because the program was untimely, incomplete, discriminatory, misdirected, and anti-poor. However, it would not become a fiasco if DTI & DENR were involved in a comprehensive national motor vehicle inspection and maintenance system/program,” said CCAAP President Herminio “Jojo” Jr. in a statement sent to CarGuide PH.
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