It's now official. With the new memo issued by the LTO, the Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS) through Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers – which was envisioned to rid the country’s roads of vehicles that are deemed not roadworthy, is now only OPTIONAL. Motorists may still take the test before renewing but it is no longer required.
This is after the Land Transportation Office (LTO) issued a memorandum that was signed on February 11, 2021. The memo was only received by the UP Law Center on February 22.
The Department of Transporation (DOTr) said the MVIS was 12 years in the making, finally rolled out in 2019 in some regions.
“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.
This new vehicle inspection system was made a pre-requisite for motor vehicle registration renewal. Testing is done through privately-owned vehicle inspection centers. However, the new requirement caused an overwhelming public outcry that prompted a senate hearing.
During a virtual meeting on February 11, 2021, attended by representatives from the DOTr, Land Transportation Office (LTO), VICOAP, Clean Air Philippines Movement Inc. (CAPMI) and Motorcycle Rights Organization (MRO), it was agreed that the PMVIC operations will continue but only as optional with the inspection fees to be reduced as follows:
Light vehicles (up to 4,500 kilograms) PhP600.00
Motorcycles PhP500.00
Jeepney PhP300.00
Additionally, all re-inspection fees will be waived for the next 12 months, or until the economic impact of the global pandemic is reduced.
*We'll update this story once a copy of the memorandum becomes available in public domain.
