DOTC brings back 'direct connectivity' for car smoke test centers

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has lifted an order suspending the Land Transportation Office (LTO) direct connect facility project for private emission testing centers or PETCs.

The pilot project allows government-accredited PETCs to connect directly to the LTO system for the “real-time” upload of photographs taken of all car emission tests they conduct in order to prevent so-called “non-appearance” cases in motorists still get their LTO registration even without having their vehicles tested.

LTO chief Virginia Torres suspended the project earlier this month following issues raised regarding the agency’s current PETC system setup, but DOTC Secretary Jose de Jesus issued a directive last Aug. 5 revoking Torres’ order.

“I have instructed the DOTC Legal Service, in coordination with the other concerned divisions of the DOTC and the LTO, to conduct an in-depth and comprehensive review of the PETC system covering the PETC direct as well as the system operated by the PETC IT (information technology) providers,” De Jesus said in his memorandum to Torres.

The project has largely been opposed by four IT firms accredited by the DOTC to provide connectivity services to PETCs to allow the online “real-time” upload of photographs of car smoke tests, since it would make them unnecessary in the whole car smoke emission testing process.

The smoke emission testing of all vehicles whose owners seek the renewal of their LTO registration has been made mandatory by the Clean Air Act.

De Jesus’ order revoking the suspension of the PETC direct connect facility has been hailed by the “Alagaan natin ating Inang Kalikasan” (Anikalikasan) which claims that the project has provided a level playing field among the more than 600 PETCs operating throughout the country.

Anikalikasan, which claims to have a membership of more than 100 PETCs, earlier petitioned De Jesus to put Torres’ suspension order on hold, saying it was unfair to the hundreds of PETCs trying to serve the motoring public.

Anikalikasan said the PETC direct connect facility is cheaper than the current system being operated and managed by the four IT firms.

“PETC-direct costs only a little over P60 per transaction whereas the old system of the PETC IT providers cost us P80 per transaction,” Anikalikasan president Rodolfo Susi said.

He added that “PETC-direct helps us small players in the PETC industry and gives us a level playing field against the PETC-IT providers who clearly favor their own PETCs at the expense of smaller groups.”