Local insurance group ACIAA makes noise outside their offices located in front of the LTO Angeles City district office on Monday. Photo by Joann Manabat
ANGELES CITY – A local insurance group here held a noise barrage outside their offices protesting the policies of Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers amid the heightened restrictions under MGCQ on Monday.
The Angeles City Insurance Agent Association (ACIAA) organized a simultaneous regional doorstep noise barrage together with other regional insurance agencies in Central Luzon opposing the “Compulsory Third Party Liability (CTPL) insurance monopoly” and the alleged stationing of an “LTO sub-office” at the QWIK PMVIC.
According to ACIAA president Claudio Arañas, due to heightened restrictions under MGCQ, they will continue to make noise outside their offices located in front of the LTO district office here to express their strong opposition against the policies on the PMVIC.
“Gusto namin ipaabot sa DOTr at LTO na itong monopolyo ng CTPL at ang paglalagay nila ng opisina sa PMVIC, which is private, ay tinututulan namin kasi napakalaking pahirap sa mga mamamayan at sa aming mga naghahanap-buhay ang sistema ng LTO,” said Arañas.
“Tuloy-tuloy ito hanggat di namin makuha yung response ng LTO at DOTr para maipaabot namin ng maayos sa kanila na kami po ay tutol sa kanilang inilabas na bagong pamamaraan ng pagrerehistro ng mga vehicle owners,” he added.
Arañas said they are hoping to hold a discussion through a forum with the sangguniang panlungsod regarding the matter.
According to QWIK PMVIC general manager Jun Hilomen, the ongoing operation of the PMVIC is already in full blast. Hilomen said they are giving out numbers to vehicle owners in order to avoid the long queue and create traffic along the highway.
“Actually pinapauwi namin sila. May number kami na ibibigay, kukunin namin yung OR-CR nila at dun sa number na ibinibigay namin, may cellphone number doon. Tawagan lang nila. Effective iyon from the past days,” said Hilomen.
“Alam naman nila na talagang papasok na itong new venture ng LTO. And mandate nito is to save lives which is roadworthiness. Marami rin nabigyan ng hanap-buhay ngayon,” noted Hilomen.
He also clarified that there is no monopoly of the CTPL as vehicle owners have the option to choose which insurance agency they prefer.
“Karamihan ng mga client namin dito may dala ng insurance. Hindi po totoo na pag may insurance na, hindi namin ia-accommodate. We are expecting around 400 vehicles a day so lahat po iyon may insurance na dala. Yung nandito hindi po sa amin. Nagli-lease lang din ang insurance dito. Choice pa din ng car owner iyon,” Hilomen said.
Hilomen also said the PMVIC in Lubao is already in operation, noting that there will be a total of three PMVICs in Pampanga thus far as another is set to operate in September but Hilomen didn’t specify which area.
For her part, LTO Angeles City district head Aida Santiago noted that the LTO doesn’t have “sub-office” at the PMVIC rather a “vehicle registration renewal system.”
It can be recalled that a nationwide noise barrage was also held in January to awaken the government into undertaking an investigation on the implementation of the PMVIC by the DOTr and LTO in replacing emission testing centers without public consultation.
