Lastimoso relayed his order by telephone to LTO-Central Luzon director Jesus Vitug, who was attending a dialogue with thousands of striking jeepney and tricycle drivers who blocked the MacArthur Highway in front of the LTO office in Barangay Sto. Domingo here to press for their various demands.
Ariel Lim, national president of the National Confederation of Tricycle Drivers and Operators of the Philippines (NC-TODAP), told The STAR that the lower fees for emission tests would benefit some 130,000 jeepney drivers and about 2.8 million tricycle drivers throughout the country.
Lastimoso said he would turn over to the LTO-Central Luzon at least five gas and fuel analyzer equipment.
The striking public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers said the local LTO has been asking them to avail themselves of privately owned emission test equipment whose owners have been charging them P300.
"I smell graft and corruption in such deals," Lim said.
According to Lim, the P40 and P90 emission test fees for tricycles and jeepneys, respectively, are imposed only in the National Capital Region despite Lastimoso’s Jan. 17 circular lowering the fees nationwide.
Thousands of commuters, mostly from outside this city, found themselves stranded as jeepneys and tricycles plying routes within Angeles joined the day-long strike that started early in the morning.
No less than 1,000 tricycles blocked the MacArthur Highway in Barangay Sto. Domingo, where leaders of PUV groups picketed the LTO office.
"What is ridiculous about the requirement for emission tests for registration of vehicles is that the LTO does not have the needed equipment. Also, the equipment cannot measure the more toxic emissions," Lim said.
The striking drivers also protested the P132 which the LTO collects to cover its computerization expenses and the overlapping insurance requirements of the LTO and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
They also raised other issues such as the required drug tests for drivers, the road user’s tax, the seat belt law and the hike in fuel prices.
Vitug promised not to implement the emission test requirement for PUVs until the needed equipment has been installed in the various LTO branches in Central Luzon.
"The driver also has the option to sign an affidavit of undertaking that would oblige him to avail himself of emission testing within 90 days upon the availability of the testing equipment at the nearest LTO branch," he said.
Arnel Cayanan, president of the Pangkalahatang Samahan ng Jeepney Drivers sa Angeles, also noted that the LTFRB has been requiring drivers to fork out P1,042 for passenger accident and motor vehicle insurance which, he said, is already covered by the LTO’s other insurance requirements costing about P2,195.