The Vehicle Inspection Center Operators Association of the Philippines and a consumer advocacy group asked the government to enforce the mandatory inspection of motor vehicles to ensure the safety of motorists.
VICOAP said in a statement the Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Center program was meant to change the old ineffective system that created multiple opportunities for corruption.
VICOAP said the program meant to make the inspection requirements for vehicle registration accurate, comfortable, convenient, safe and corrupt-free.
The Department of Transportation earlier ordered the Land Transportation Office to temporary stop the mandatory implementation of Motor Vehicle Inspection System amid issues raised by Sen. Grace Poe and complaints from motorists.
Angelo Palmones, president of the Alyansa ng mga Grupong Haligi ng Agham at Teknolohiya Para sa Mamamayan, slammed Poe for opposing the implementation of the mandatory inspection of motor vehicles by private centers.
"PMVICs are the next step in ensuring road safety, as has been institutionalized in all corners of our planet. AGHAM condemns the senator for getting in the way of progress," Palmones said in a separate statement.
"It is time to put an end to the rolling coffins and environmentally unsound vehicles that continue to ply our roads," he said.
Poe, in a privilege speech earlier this week, told the DOTR to address the alleged problems and headaches being caused to motorists by PMVICs amid the pandemic.
She said these included alleged long queues sans physical distancing at the centers and alleged burdensome costs, especially when compared to more traditional private emission testing centers.
Palmones said solely relying on PETCs and the Land Transportation Office District Office visual inspectors to determine vehicles' roadworthiness and exhaust emissions compliance "has failed and will continue to fail the public unless it is completely revamped".
"The status quo of non-appearance/no-show practiced by fixers in collusion with PETCs, insurance companies, and the LTO District Offices themselves, has been so institutionalized that the very mentality of Filipinos is no longer that of safety, but one of misplaced 'convenience', unspeakable corruption, and worst of all, complete disregard of Filipino lives," he said.
"How dare Senator Poe choose that status quo over an initiative that although at the moment is not perfect, clearly does away with all of those opportunities for corruption. Does Senator Poe know about the system that she is choosing to uphold by stopping PMVICs from operating?" Palmones said.
