Cash payments should also be made available.
In his directive on Wednesday, October 15, Acting Transportation Sec. Giovanni Lopez ordered the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to explore other payment options, including cash payments, for motor vehicle registrations at Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers (PMVIC).
This is following complaints from the public about single online payment option and charging them with P65 convenience fee at a PMVIC Vehicle Renewal Facility (VREF).
Lopez stressed, “Dapat hindi natin pinapahirapan ang mga kababayan natin.“
He added, “Inatasan ko na si LTO Chief Markus Lacanilao na tingnan ang insyung ito dahil isang concern ito ng ating mga kababayan. Malaking halaga ang P65 pesos, pwede na nila itong gamitin sa ibang bagay gaya ng pamasahe at pagkain. Lagi natin dapat isipin kung paano mas magiging maayos ang serbisyo natin sa publiko.”
In addition, the DOTR chief also ordered the PMVIC Authorization Committee to issue a show cause order against the PMVIC in question to explain the lone payment option, even if there are methods available.
The LTO has also been directed to find ways to eliminate or reduce convenience fees for online payments, and review terms at Vehicle Renewal Facilities (VREF) that will allow them to accept cash payments for processing transactions and address the convenience fee issue.
“Dapat maraming payment options, including cash. Paano naman ‘yung mga walang online mobile wallets? Dapat may cash, dapat mayroon ding other payment options na available. Let’s be flexible,” emphasized the acting transport chief.
In response, the LTO has already clarified that the VREF—an online motor vehicle renewal center established by the LTO at PMVICs to process online transactions for more convenience—is not inside the agency premises in Angono, Rizal but at a PMVIC nearby.
Under an agreement signed in 2020 and executed in 2022, the LTO partnered with Paynamics—which recognized the payment channel for online transactions with convenience fee plus VAT to be paid by the client.
According to the DOTr, the said agreement is set to expire this month