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LAND Transportation Office (LTO) chief Alberto Suansing wants to
limit the number of vehicles that a private emission test center (PETC)
can service, which will help put a stop to the illegal activities of
some unscrupulous centers.
In an interview, Suansing said he is in favor of
a rationalization program for the testing centers, which aims to
totally eliminate the illegal non-appearance operation being made by
unscrupulous operators.
“The PETCs are there to make sure that all
private vehicles undergo emission testing which is a provision
included in the Clean Air Act. But there are come test center owners
who are engaged in illegal activities, that is why there is a need
to rationalize,” Suansing explained.
Under the rationalization program, the LTO will
impose a limit on the number of vehicles an emission test center can
service. The number will depend on number of lanes a PETC has.
If a center has one lane for gasoline vehicle
and one lane for diesel vehicle, it can only test a maximum of 1,200
vehicles a month or an average of 60 vehicles a day.
The LTO will also limit the number of test
centers near the vicinity of an LTO district office, and this will
be based on the average number of clients a district office
services.
The rationalization program was proposed after
Suansing received reports regarding the rampant non-appearance
operation being made by some PETCs because of stiff competition.
Under the non-appearance scheme, a vehicle is
issued an emission certificate compliance even if it did not
undergo an actual test.
Normal emission testing costs only P400 while
non-appearance bribes range from P800 to P900. Only the LTO has the
authority to issue an accreditation to a PETC.
-- Jefferson Antiporda
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