BY ADRIAN P. NEMES III
The Clean Air Movement of the Philippines Inc., a group of private emission testing centers, is mulling to file a temporary restraining order petition against the new memorandum of the Land Transportation Office.
Alquin Manzano, Campin vice president, told the DAILY STAR that their lawyers are now preparing the documents and will file the TRO petition next week.
Under the new memo signed by LTO assistant secretary Edgar Galvante on August 6, light weight vehicles should be checked and tested by authorized Private Motor Vehicles Inspection Centers.
Galvante said this is to ensure that they are compliant with LTO regulations and are roadworthy.
He said that emission testing centers are only allowed to inspect vehicles weighing more than 4,501 kilograms.
But Manzano said the new memo will affect thousands of individuals, who are employed by private emission testing centers.
He claimed that the new order is unlawful since the existence of emission testing centers is covered by Republic Act 8749, or the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999.
What should have been done instead is for emission testing centers to continue while MIVs can check the roadworthiness of the vehicles, he added.
An emission testing center operator said some of them are planning to reduce the number of employees. If that happens, around 64 to 68 employees will be affected, he said.
He added that the memorandum was received Monday and implemented immediately, and they were not given enough time to prepare.*
