PMVICs are privately-owned automated vehicle inspection facilities that will not only check a vehicle’s compliance with emission standards but will also test its roadworthiness prior to registration.

The DOTr and the LTO, through the PMVIC Authorization Committee (AC), is now fast tracking the conduct of inspections to ensure the PMVICs’ compliance to standards and requirements for activation. The PMVIC AC is tasked to formulate the guidelines and procedures on PMVICs, and to evaluate the applicant's conformity with the requirements for authority to operate these.

DOTr Assistant Secretary for Procurement and Project Implementation and head of the Authorization Committee Giovanni Lopez said that of the 138 identified sites, 113 have already been awarded to private operators, with 25 sites still to be awarded.

The AC is targeting to open 32 sites nationwide by last week of August, pending the results of the inspection.

“The AC is targeting to activate the 32 PMVIC sites hopefully by the last week of August. We have been conducting ocular inspections, despite travel limitations due to COVID-19, to determine the readiness of these sites. One of the requirements we are looking at is connectivity with the LTO Information Technology (IT) system. Tinitingnan po namin kung compatible at naka-konekta na sila sa LTO IT System para maging automated,” Asec Lopez stressed.

To be made operational this August are PMVICs at the following sites in Luzon: (Region 1) San Fernando City, La Union; Vigan, Ilocos Sur; Laoag City, Ilocos Norte; within Lingayen and Alaminos, Pangasinan; (Region 3) Angeles City, Pampanga; (Region 4A) Dasmariñas, Cavite; San Pedro, Laguna; (Region 4B) Calapan, Oriental Mindoro; (National Capital Region) Pasig City; Valenzuela City; (Region 5) Pamplona, Camarines Sur; Pili, Camarines Sur; Sorsogon City; and Daet, Camarines Norte.

In the Visayas, PMVIC will operate in the following: (Region 6) Roxas City, Capiz; (Region 7) Mandaue City, Cebu (2 sites); Danao City, Cebu; Naga City, Cebu; Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental (2 sites); Tagbilaran City, Bohol; Tubigon, Bohol; Bais City, Negros Oriental; (Region 8 Maasin City, Southern Leyte; and Ormoc City, Leyte;

For Mindanao, motorists will soon be able to have their motor vehicle inspected at the following PMVIC sites: (Region 9) Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay; (Region 10) Iligan City, Lanao del Norte; Ozamis City, Misamis Occidental; (Region 11) Mati City, Davao Oriental; Panabo City, Davao del Norte; (Region 12) General Santos City, South Cotabato.

Following the activation of the 32 PMVICs in August, 29 PMVICs are targeted to be operational in September 2020, 14 in October 2020, 3 in November 2020, 5 in December 2020, and 25 by January 2021.

“The operationalization of the remaining awarded sites (30 PMVICs) will be for further determination,” Asec. Lopez added.

For his part, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade underscored the benefits of an automated inspection system to determine the vehicle’s roadworthiness.

“Yung automated inspection, titignang mabuti ang roadworthiness ng sasakyan nang sa ganun, malaman kung ligtas itong bumaybay sa mga kalsada. Hindi na po manu-mano ang inspection. Machine po ang gagawa kaya naman accurate ang resulta. At dahil limited ang human intervention, mawawala 'yung sinasabi nating opportunities for corruption,” Secretary Tugade emphasized.

On the part of the LTO, Assistant Secretary Edgar C. Galvante said that the Agency is likewise fast tracking the preparation of the LTO’s IT system to be able to accommodate and process the results from the PMVICs.

“We have been testing the LTO IT system and its connectivity with that of the inspection centers to identify issues, and iron out glitches. This is to ensure that once operational, the transaction process will be smooth and efficient,” the LTO Chief shared.

Once implemented, the PMVIC is expected to add an additional 30 minutes to the motor vehicle registration process.