Tuesday, August 07, 2007 Councilor wants emission test shops checked By Grace L. Plata
CITY Councilor Pilar Braga called on the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to investigate the increased rates charged by smoke emission tests shops as well as the accuracy of the test results.
In a resolution to be proposed Tuesday, Braga, chair of the committee on energy, transportation and communication, requests DTI and LTO to determine whether the gadgets used by these shops are fool-proof.
"Since the implementation of test emission as a prerequisite for renewing car registrations, the number of accredited businesses involved in the vehicular testing have risen, thus, affording conveyance owners the choice, which firm offers faster services, lower charges, and more convenient locations. But despite the competitiveness generated by the optimistic growth of this sector, the rates offered for test emission have reportedly increased dramatically, in effect generating the predictable complaints from unit operators, car owners, and the public conveyances drivers," Braga said.
"It has been reported also that some testing centers, despite claim of efficiency and being computerized, actually allow the tampering of results in exchange of a higher fee, suggesting that the units used for test emissions can be manipulated and the test results showed as basis for registration, flawed or inaccurate," Braga added.
In order to get down to the bottom of these unsettling observations, Braga said there is a need for a full-blown probe into the misconduct, including the determination whether trade malpractices are really present, and to protect the interest of the public, especially the owners and operators of vehicles.
