Motorcycle group asks DOTr to suspend emission testing

MCPF says Doble Plaka requirements lead to crowding at emission testing centers

Motorcycle group, Motorcycle Philippines Federation (MCPF) has asked Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade to temporarily suspend emission testing for motorcycles.

According to MCPF, motorcycle riders have been crowding at emission testing offices, as well as LTO offices in a bid to comply with some of the provisions of the Republic Act 11235 – commonly known in the motorcycle riding community as the “Doble Plaka Law.” The rush is mainly over the provision that requires the immediate transfer of ownership or face hefty fines and serious jail time.

^{Copy of the request by MCPF}

“Kaya lang natin minungkahi na i-suspend muna dahil sa social distancing (That’s why we suggested to temporarily suspend [emission testing] so that social distancing could be observed),” said Arturo “Atoy” Sta. Cruz, incumbent director for administration of the group MCPF.

Sta. Cruz suggests that the LTO order testing centers and its offices to implement a scheduling scheme specific to motorcycle riders. This may help avoid congestion in the testing centers and their offices.

For example, he says, if the motorcycle owner’s last name begins with the letter A to D, their schedule registration/ transfer of ownership could fall on a Monday; E to H on Tuesday, I to L on Wednesday and so on.

The group has also pointed out the serious lack of testing centers. Since the DOTr has ordered the closure of a good number of Private Emission Testing Center (PETCs), people have no choice but to transact with the few that are left.

“Marami silang pinasara ng LTO na emission testing center, kaya ang tao dagsa sa kung ano ang natira (The LTO [and the DOTr] have closed a lot of PETCs, that’s why people flock the few that’s currently operating),” Sta. Cruz said.

Besides the implementation of the Doble Plaka law, LTO offices have been very busy during the past few weeks, catching up on transactions that have been delyaed or hampered by the lockdown brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.