For the first time, Department of Transportation (DOTr) officials gave the media a walkthrough of a newly opened Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers (PMVIC). DOTr undersecretary Artemio Tuazon Jr. and Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief Edgar Galvante invited journalists to the Qwik Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Center in Angeles City to witness how the new 60-point inspection process works.
Of the 138 PMVICs targeted for completion, the DOTr says 29 are now operational and engaged in actual vehicle testing. These facilities—costing some P65 million each—are spread out across the country. With the anticipated opening of more PMVICs in the coming months, Tuazon said that emission testing centers are gradually being phased out in areas where new testing centers are fully operational. In these areas, the DOTr has already stopped issuing permits to operate for old emission testing centers.
“We explained to the owners of the emission testing centers that if ever we will give them the authorization to operate, it will be on a temporary basis only. And it will be good only until the PMVIC in the area become fully operational,” said Tuazon.
World shooting champion Jethro Dionisio eagerly dropped his emission facility to open up his own PMVIC in Laoag City.
“Buhay ng mga motorista ang pinaguusapan dito. Dapat matagal na ’yan ipinatupad yang PMVIC,” he said.
Previously, there were more than 1,000 private emission testing centers in the country. However, most of them did not attempt to renew their government contracts when PMVICs were granted certificates of compliance by the DOTr.
Are you ready to embrace the new vehicle-testing procedures?