Welcome para sa Department of Transportation ang naging pahayag ni Senator Ralph Recto kaugnay sa pagbuhay ng Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Center (PMVIC) Program.
Sa statement ng PMVIC Steering Commitee, sinabi nito na kinikilala nila ang mga isyu na inihayag Recto may kaugnayan sa legalidad ng PMVIC gayundin ang pangangailangan na i-adopt ang comprehensive vehicle roadworthiness inspection system.
Sabi ng komite, “In this desire to improve, enhance and cultivate a culture of discipline, responsibility and awareness amongst the stakeholders, we want to assure the honorable Senator Recto that we are with him in rallying our people to what is right, and not necessarily what is popular, in upholding our nation’s best interest.”
Inihayag nito na base sa naging legal opinion ng Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) noong March 18, 2021, nakasaad na mayroong kapangyarihan ang DOTr at Land Transportation Office na tiyakin ang roadworthiness ng mga sasakyan at magpatupad ng motor vehicle inspection system (MVIS).
Malinaw din sabi ng OSG base sa Administrative Code of 1987 at Executive Order 125-A na maaring pahintulutan ng DOTr at LTO ang mga korporasyon o organisasyon ito man ay pribado o pampubliko na lumahok sa pagpapatupad ng mga programa may kauganayan sa transportasyon.
Iginiit din ng OSG sa kanilang legal opinion na hindi ipinapasa ng DOTr sa private sector ang kapangyarihan na inatang sa kanila bagkus ang ginagawa lamang nito ay humingi ng tulong sa pribadong sektor.
“In so far as the good Senator’s seeking justification that implementing the PMVIC system now “will not result in long lines, longer processing time, and longer travel time to faraway PMVIC sites,” we have fully addressed this with the issuance of DOTr Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 2021-02 or the Implementation of Geographical Area of Responsibility (GAOR) for the renewal of registration for light vehicles and motorcycles, dated July 5, 2021”, saad ng komite.
May kaugnayan naman sa sinasabing suking PMVIC, sinabi ng DOTr na ang mga tanggapan ng LTO na may mga PMVIC GAORs ay maaring tumanggap ng resulta mula sa PMVIC na nasa kanilang area of coverage.
Dagdag pa ng komite, “With these, we wish to gently re-direct the misimpression of the honorable Senator that we are marketing the PMVICs as the be-all, end-all solution to minimizing road accidents. Though roadworthiness is not the cure-all for road crashes, it is one of the pillars of road safety.”