Gov’t, IT firm target erring emission test centers

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and Land Transportation Office (LTO), in cooperation with IT provider Stradcom, will be working together to weed-out "fly-by-night" emission testing centers.

Ramon Reyes, interconnectivity head and operations manager of Stradcom, said they support the administration’s bid to clean up the emission testing program, which has been plagued with allegations of anomalies.

Reyes said that under the setup, PETCs would have web cameras to prevent "non-appearances" of car owners.

"With this program, we can determine vehicles that should not be registered. Via an audit report, we can also find out which PETCs issue fake certificates of emission compliance. It will also raise revenue for the government," Reyes said.

DOTC probes anomalies

Meanwhile, DOTC Undersecretary Edward Harun Pagunsan urged a PETC group, led by Carmen Locsin to submit the necessary documents to back up their allegations against officials of the DOTC and the LTO.

In a meeting between Pagunsan and Locsin’s group, Pagunsan, a former Ombudsman official, told Locsin that if she has the pre-requisite proof and documentary evidence, appropriate charges should be filed in the proper courts.

Locsin earlier accused DOTC Undersecretary Ricardo Alfonso and LTO chief Anneli Lontoc of allegedly conniving to protect some PETC operators engaged in fraudulent testing.

"If Locsin has the smoking, gun, she should show it to back up her charges," Pagunsan said. – Sandy Araneta