Road map on transportation regulation

CHEERS TO ABS-CBN 2’s Failon Ngayon for looking at the state of land transportation and regulation in the country — specifically the issues on driver’s licensing and the Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS).

Failon Ngayon reviewed the process in driver’s licensing and the plan to privatize the MVIS on its episode aired April 11. The program said that  the number of road accidents has increased from 12, 875 in 2013 to 15,527 in 2014.  Some 13,490 road accidents in 2014  were due to human error. The program linked this to the lax standards in driver’s licensing of the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

The current affairs program said that the LTO is lenient in both the written examination and the practical test for the driver’s licensing. The answers to the written exams are posted on the walls of the examination room, while the examiner approves the papers for the driving test after asking the applicant to put on his seat belt and start the engine. Failon Ngayon also discussed the “fixer” system in the LTO. Fixers charge applicants from Php500 to Php1,000 to hasten the licensing process.

Failon Ngayon included several video clips of the existing fixer system in the LTO. The program also interviewed a person who obtained a “two wheels” and “four wheels” driver’s license even if he does not know how to drive a car.

LTO Assec Alfonso Tan Jr. admitted during the program episode that the organization has little control on these matters, but claimed that the department is doing its best to hasten the application process so as to discourage fixers.

Failon Ngayon also looked at the proposed privatization of MVIS. The LTO has endorsed  MVIS privatization to the National Economic and Development Authority and is currently waiting for the President’s signature in Malacañang to realize it. This Public-Private Partnership aims to strengthen and develop the current inspection system of vehicles.

MVIS privatization will increase vehicle inspection charges. From PHP50, the cost of inspecting    tricycles will increase to PHP750; from PHP300 to PHP750 for motorcycles; from PHP115 to PHP1,200 for jeepneys; from PHP350 to PHP1,200 for private vehicles; and from PHP550 to PHP3,000 for trucks and buses.

Only in February 2014, Failon Ngayon reported that MIVS equipment were lying idle  and  useless in some of the district offices of LTO. LTO spokesperson Jason Salvador said that some provinces do not have the infrastructure to support the machines.

In the April 11 episode, Tan said the government is not equipped to construct and maintain MVIS centers.

Failon Ngayon pointed out that in 2014 the Road Board collected PHP11 billion in motor vehicle users’ fees. PHP25 million is allocated in the national budget for the maintenance of MIVS.

The program also interviewed public transport drivers and operators and non-government organizations.