Road safety favors MVIS (I)

Implementation of a better MVIS is long overdue and should be done now

(Editors note: Daily Tribune is running a series on the Motor Vehicle Inspection System to apprise motorists and the public on the value of the government scheme.)

Lately, the planned implementation of the Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS) has received a strong backlash from motorists mostly due to higher fees and lack of transparency in the bidding process.

The Department of Transportation (DoTr) maintained there is a dire need for periodic inspection of vehicles, as conveyances which are not road worthy remain a death trap.

Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade remained unfazed. In his letter to President Rodrigo Duterte, a copy of which was seen by the Daily Tribune, Tugade reiterated that the implementation of a better MVIS is “long overdue” and “should be done now.”

The letter, dated 10 February, also stated that the deferment of the measure “is anti-life and is detrimental to public safety.”

Citing the Republic Act 4136 or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, Tugade argued that the implementation of the MVIS is “legal” and “internationally-accepted.”

He noted that under the law, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) should ensure that registered vehicles are safe to use by conducting necessary inspections.

Safety not a political football

“I believe that safety must not be politicized. Efforts to protect and preserve it must not be demonized. It is imperative if we are to provide a comfortable, convenient and safe life for the Filipinos — the legacy we want our children and future generations to enjoy,” Tugade said.

Citing data from the 2019 annual report of the Road Safety Unit of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the DoTr said there was a total of 121,771 road crashes in Metro Manila for the year, with an average of 334 cases per day.

Of this figure, 372 ended in deaths while 20,466 victims suffered from non-fatal injuries and 100,933 resulted in damage to property.

The DoTr said ensuring the roadworthiness and safety of vehicles will be addressed by the longoverdue implementation of MVIS in the country.