AN OFFICIAL of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Northern Mindanao has announced on Friday, March 6, that they will allow advance renewal of vehicle registration two months before the expiration to avoid penalties.
LTO-Northern Mindanao director Nelson Manaloto said this amid the issue on the lack of emission testing centers which caused “delays” of the registration renewal.
“I would like to announce na LTO allows 2 months advance of registration renewal. If you have that initiative para maiwasan ang penalty, you go to the center para sa schedule siguro di kaayo aabutan ng penalty,” Manaloto said.
Last week, Cagayan de Oro 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez raised this concern after receiving complaints of car owners who were made to pay a penalty for late registration “which is not entirely their fault in the first place.”
He said if a car owner fails to register his vehicle with the LTO on time due to the delay, the LTO collects a penalty for late registration that is not entirely the owner’s fault.
Rodriguez filed Resolution 742, where he cited complaints he received about the delays of up to two weeks due to the lack of emission testing centers accredited by the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
“The DOTr and the LTO are penalizing car owners for these agencies’ failure to accredit a sufficient number of emission test centers that are easily accessible to the public that they should serve,” Rodriguez said.
Manaloto said out of 14 emission testing center in the region, only six continue to operate after the others were either suspended or revoked due to violations.
“Ginawa ng DOTr na suspendihin at i-revoke ang PETCs sapagkat merong maliwanag na violations. It is just proper dahil ang pag create ng PETCs is in relation to Clean Air Act to ensure that vehicles along the road are emission compliant dahil pag hindi it will cause pollution,” Manaloto said.
But, Rodriguez said there should not have been cancellation without alternatives.
Rodriguez said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) should answer why they cancel emission testing centers without approving new ones.
“Nag cancel ka unya walay bag-o mao nag-clog up na dili na makaya sa mga remaining centers. Dapat walay cancellation kung walay alternative,” Rodriguez said.