By Egay Uy
ONE of the basic principles of taxation according to economist Adam Smith is that paying the tax must be convenient to the taxpayer. Owners or motor vehicles pay a road user’s tax as part of the amounts paid to the national government through the LTO.
The “solution” of advanced registration does not solve the problem because taxpayers are still made to line up long queues for their motor vehicles to be tested for emission levels. One of the “surviving” public emission testing centers that I recently asked told me the queue in their shop is already up to April 2020.
What made matters worse is that the diesel emission testing capability of that PETC’s only machine bogged down without any relief in sight. They now service only gasoline-fed engines. I inquired further as to when would they test diesel engines, the reply was dismal, “I don’t know. If we send that machine for repair in Davao, we will be left with no equipment to do emission tests.”
If that does not aggravate the already difficult situation for motor vehicle owners, I don’t know what the LTO or the DOTR calls that.
I did not realize the gravity of the disservice until I went to a PETC myself to check. Just imagine the cost of one’s precious time being unnecessarily wasted in long queues at the PETC. And for sure, the LTO will be quick in slapping late renewal of vehicle registrations with surcharges or penalties.
Accepting early registration renewals does not really seriously address the problem the motoring public is suffering. It does not remove the long queues even as it may forego paying penalties or surcharges.
I would suggest that the LTO or the DOTR seriously correct the situation.
Motor vehicle owners are paying the right taxes and fees. Now, it’s your turn to do your job.
***
What is the real picture as regards the Covid-19 in the country?
Everybody knows that other countries have openly declared infections and are coming out with solutions in their respective jurisdictions. Sadly, it appears our own has kept itself mum about what really is the real score concerning the gravity of the problem.
Does the country truly deserve this kind of governance?
(Egay Uy is a lawyer. He chairs the City’s Regulatory and Complaint Board, co-chairs with the city mayor the City Price Coordinating Council, and chairs the city’s Joint Inspection Team. He retired as a vice president of Cepalco.)
