LTO Applicants in San Carlos City Swell

 LASER ENGRAVER AND PETC IN BAYAMBANG GO PFFT

By Mortz C. Ortigoza

SAN CARLOS CITY, Pangasinan – Applicants for driving licenses and emission testing certificates swelled in this city after the laser engraver bogged down and the two private emission testing center (PETC) closed in the neighboring Bayambang town.

San Carlos City’s Land Transportation Office Chief Aileen O. Peteros said that the LTO in Bayambang offers only renewal of licenses because the two PETCs closed down because their franchise with the government expired.

Applicants for driving and renewal of licenses in a Land Transportation Office in the Philippines.

This city has one operational PETC that attracted clients from the five towns and one city’s 3^rd District of Pangasinan.

“Sa San Carlos isa na lang doon. License transaction in LTO Bayambang is currently unavailable kasi sira iyong laser engraver nila iyong tao nada-divert papunta dito,” Peteros, whose previous assignments were LTO Chiefs of Agoo, La Union and Lingayen, Pangasinan, told Northern Watch Newspaper.

The PETCs in Pangasinan and the country are gradually closing because of the presence of the Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Center (PMVIC).

“Sarado na dahil existing na ang PMVIC in Urdaneta,” she cited about the presence of the emission testing center in Urdaneta City.

PMVICs are privately-owned automated vehicle inspection facilities that will not only check the vehicle's compliance in the Philippines with emission standards but will also test for roadworthiness prior to the renewal of its registration.

The other PMVIC where the vehicles’ owners can go and subject their trucks, cars, or motorcycles are in the cities of Dagupan and San Carlos.

The operation of PMVICs was not suspended according to other news reports.  Vehicle owners are still free to choose if they want PMVIC or PETC to inspect their vehicle before registering.

PMVIC owners headed by Vehicle Inspection Center Operators Association of the Philippines (VICOAP) President Iñigo Larrazabal lowered the testing fees to P600 for light vehicles; P500 for motorcycles; and P300 for public utility jeepneys.

Peteros said the biggest LTO offices in Pangasinan are in Urdaneta City and Dagupan City.

The other offices are in San Carlos City, Alaminos City, Bayambang, Rosales, Lingayen, and others.