Amidst the different controversies leading to the delay in the construction and operations of Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers (PMVICs), Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade has stated that he is pursuing the continuation of PMVICs in the country.

It may be recalled that the president himself ordered the cancellation of making the Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS) mandatory due to the ongoing pandemic last February.

“Hindi na po mandatory and MVIS. Ibig sabihin, kinakailangan walang bagong singil, walang karagdagang singil para sa pagpaparehistro ng mga sasakyan,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque has said in a Palace press briefing.

In addition to this, the Senate also recommended the temporary suspension of Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers (PMVICs). This is due to the lack of transparency in the selection process of these centers, which may pose as an avenue for corruption.

However, DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade is pushing for the opposite. He wants to push for the construction and operations of Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers (PMVICs) since they can provide vehicles with the in-depth 70-point testing process versus the basic testing that Private Emission Testing Centers (PETCs) provide.

“Dapat gawing mandatory ito. Anyway, pareho na naman ang presyo,” the DOTr secretary has said. This pertains to the testing fees of PMVICs and PETCs, both of which charge a testing fee of around P500 for motorcycles and P600 for light vehicles.

Despite DOTr Secretary Tugade relentlessly pushing for these Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers (PMVICs), he would have to wait as the operations and further construction of Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers (PMVICs) in the country are on hold due to an ongoing investigation. Senator Joel Villanueva said, “whatever way you look at it, legally speaking, morally speaking, practically looking at this particular program, talagang kailangan i-suspend muna itong program na ito dahil kulang na kulang, sobrang kulang yung consultation.”

The result of the ongoing investigation will determine whether Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers (PMVICs) will permanently be shut down or be allowed to continue doing vehicle assessments.