Cars and motorcycles gather at Shell–Pulung Bulu station for protest motorcade against the PMVIC. Photo by Joann Manabat
ANGELES CITY — Private vehicle owners and transport groups honk their horns in a motorcade of protest against the private motor vehicle inspection center (PMVIC) here on Monday.
The protest is a simultaneous nationwide noise barrage to “waken” government into undertaking an investigation on the implementation of the PMVIC by the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Office replacing emission testing centers without public consultation.
According to Dan Yumul, chairman of Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Tutol sa Phase–Out, they are protesting against the implementation of the PMVIC system and its processes.
“Hindi namin tinututulan ang roadworthiness (test). Ang sistemang ginagawa nila ang tinututulan namin. May batas na ba yan? Dumaan na ba yan sa Kongreso, sa Senate? Bigla na lang nag-open noong October,” said Yumul.
“Una, mahal (PMVIC testing). Pangalawa, ano ang garantiya na ang sinsingil nila ay effective sa sinasabi nilang roadworthy ang sasakyan,” Yumul noted. Lamenting the inconvenience inflicted upon the vehicle owner, Yumul said: “Kundi pumasa, bibigyan ka ng five days para ipa-repair at magbabayad ka ng 50 percent o P900. After that, kung hindi pa rin pumasa, magbabayad ka uli ng P1,800.”
Rey Batul, a private car owner, said it’s time to voice out the improper timing of the implementation of the PMVIC as we are in a pandemic.
He also cited the need for public consultation and the high fees required for the testing.
Yumul said they are hoping for a proper dialogue with the LTO as well as public consultation prior to implementation, noting that there are transport groups, small insurance business and private emission testing center owners, aside from private vehicle owners who will be affected by the PMVIC and its system.
