DOTr and LTO preview Motor Vehicle Inspection Center

The DOTr and LTO show MVIS center in Pampanga

The Department of Transportation (DOTr), together with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), visited and led select members of the press through a functioning, modern Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS) center.

The process was shown at QWIK Vehicle Inspection Services, a fully-operational Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Center (PMVIC) located at Sto. Domingo, Angeles City, Pampanga today, 21 December 2020.

The MVIS is the culmination of 12 long-years of planning, refining, and implementation.

“12 years, I repeat—12 years. For the past 12 years pinag-iisipan na po, pinagpa-planuhan na po itong MVIS (for the past 12 years we've been planning and refining the MVIS). But only during the term of Secretary Tugade and Asec Galvante, na talagang pinatupad (that it was implemented). That [was] 2018, and we rolled it out 2019," said DOTr Chief of Staff and Assistant Secretary for Procurement and Project Implementation, Atty. Giovanni Lopez.

The MVIS is envisioned to ensure that every motor vehicle, including motorcycles, are roadworthy, said LTO Asec. Edgar Galvante.

“It is not about the vehicle’s year model with the MVIC, but it’s all about the vehicle’s roadworthiness. That is why putting up the MVIC system is a big help and we can have the benefit of having a scientific, methodical, and very systematic checking of the roadworthiness of a vehicle.”

PMVIC vs PETC

A Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Center (PMVIC), which utilizes the MVIS, differs a lot from the Private Emission Testing Centers (PETC). Unlike a PETC, which only checks for a vehicle’s emissions levels in compliance with Clean Air Act, a PMVIC will also check for a vehicle’s roadworthiness. This includes checking of 62 individual vehicle parts through visual and computer-aided testing. These parts include, but are not limited to brakes, lights, speedometer, side mirrors, exhaust, dripping oil, suspension system, and any modifications.

The MVIS checks the functionality of many of these components that are critical for a vehicle's safe operation on the road. By checking the functionality of these components, it prevents dilapidated or poorly-maintained vehicles from being registered. This way, mechanical failures can be avoided, thus reducing accidents on the road. 

If a vehicle or a motorcycle fails the inspection, it must be repaired or have any unauthorized modifications removed before being allowed to go through inspection again. The inspection fee is PhP600 for motorcycles, with a PhP300 re-inspection fee if necessary.

Phase 1 of the new MVIS and PMVICs are hoped to be fully operational before the second quarter of next year. PETCs will be slowly phased out. Soon, an MVIS certificate will be required prior to registration of your vehicle.