VICOAP lauds reconciled LTO and Dermalog

The Vehicle Inspection Centers Operators Association of the Philippines (VICOAP), in a statement issued Tuesday, Sept. 20, expressed optimism after the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and its information technology (IT) provider, Germany-based Dermalog, reconciled to resolve the problems of the motoring public and improve LTO’S business processes.

LTO and Dermalog officials were in a public dispute over recent delays in processing motor vehicle and license renewals using the online portal, the Land Transportation Management System (LTMS).

Dermalog developed the LTMS as part of the government’s digital shift. lto awarded the project to the German firm in 2018 through a Joint Venture Agreement.

“Our organization is pleased by this development since we can now focus on providing services to the end-users of LTMS, majority of which are our clients,” VICOAP President Aaron Cabiltes stated.

“Likewise, we hope that with this renewed effort, we can now focus on boosting the modernization of our country’s vehicle inspection system where PMVICs play a major role,” he explained.

“Most importantly, this development can help us move forward in attaining our end-goal of ensuring that our vehicles are roadworthy as one of the major aspects of road safety,” Cabiltes underscored.

LTO chief Assistant Secretary Teofilo Guadiz confirmed, in a recent statement, that he fully supports the Motor Vehicle Registration Information System in the public portal of LTMS for the renewal of vehicles as this will greatly reduce the lines in the LTO offices.

The activation of the portal will make it possible for vehicle owners to renew registration without needing to line up at LTO offices around the country, he pointed out.

Earlier, in tge budget appropriations hearing for the Department of Transportation (DOTr), House Deputy Minority Leader Bagong Henerasyon (BH) Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera was dismayed over the rampant non-appearance practices in the renewal of vehicle registrations.

Herrera asked LTO Chief Guadiz what the agency is doing to avoid such unscrupulous activities.

Guadiz responded that the installation of the private motor vehicle inspection centers (PMVICs) allows the LTO to monitor the transparency of actual inspections being conducted by the licensed technicians.

He added that the LTO seeks to minimize the number of private emission testing centers (PETCs) since the existence of these centers do not reflect the actual registration and are breeding grounds for the non-appearance ruse.

Guadiz assured Herrera that more PMVICs are soon to be established in addition to the one hundred that are already operational.

VICOAP President Cabiltes welcomed the pronouncements of Herrera and Guadiz as an indication that the role of the vehicle inspection centers is now being acknowledged as a pillar of public service in ensuring that vehicles plying the streets are safe.

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