Emission test or motor inspection clearance still needed: Palace

MANILA – Motorists still need to secure either a certificate from emission testing centers or private motor vehicle inspection centers (PMVICs) for vehicle registration, Malacañang said on Friday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque issued the clarification a day after he announced President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision not to make the Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS) mandatory.

“Bagama’t ang Pangulo po ay nagsabi na hindi dapat ipatupad ang motor vehicle inspection, kinakailangan pa rin po na mag-submit ng either ‘yung emission clearance or MVIS (While the President has decided not to make motor vehicle inspection mandatory, motorists should still submit either emission clearance or MVIS),” Roque said during the Laging Handa briefing.

On Thursday, Roque announced Duterte’s move to make MVIS non-mandatory, considering the current situation in the country due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Duterte’s fresh directive came amid questions over the implementation of MVIS which aims to ensure the roadworthiness of vehicles and prevent road accidents.

Roque, however, said private vehicles should still undergo inspection prior to registration.

“Dalawa po ‘yang pupuwede ninyong isumite, yung emission na dati na po yan or MVIS. Hindi pupuwede na wala ang pareho (You could submit either of the two, the emission clearance or the MVIS. You have to present any of the two),” he said.

The MVIS program mandates motorists to pass a stringent 73-point inspection system that will be conducted by MVICs using advanced technology.

Under the new policy, the inspection will be conducted in three stages with the use of state-of-the-art equipment that sends, automatically and in real-time, the results to the Land Transportation Office’s (LTO) information technology system.

The LTO authorizes PMVICs to collect an inspection of PHP1,800 from motor vehicles weighing 4,500 kilograms or less.

If the vehicle fails the test, it will be required to undergo necessary repairs and be brought back to the PMVIC, forcing the motorist to pay an additional PHP900 reinspection fee to obtain clearance.

On the other hand, motorcycles and tricycles are charged PHP600 for the inspection fee and PHP300 for reinspection, if necessary.

Prior to the implementation of the new inspection procedure, motorists are required to pay an average of PHP500 for the emission testing fee.

Roque said there was a commitment from PMVIC owners to lower their testing fee to PHP600.

“Alinsunod sa naging order ng ating Presidente, ang mga operator ng private motor vehicle inspection centers ay nagsabi na ang singil nila ay kapareho lamang ng emission test na 600 pesos (In line with the President’s order, operators of private motor vehicle inspection centers have vowed to charge PHP600 for inspection, the same as the rate for emission test),” he said.