The Land Transportation Office (LTO) on Thursday, Nov. 23, said traditional jeepneys should pass strict “roadworthiness” inspection measures to operate beyond the December 31 deadline.

“[S]tarting next year, ipagdidiinan na natin yung motor vehicle inspection. Inaayos na po natin yung mga facilities natin para restriktuhan na po natin sa mga pampublikong sasakyan,” LTO chief Vigor Mendoza told DZRH.

Mendoza noted that only visual inspection was being done at the moment, which would be changed the following year.

“Sa ngayon po kasi ang ginagawa lang po diyan visual inspection. Ibig sabihin meron tayong mga LTO inspector, tinitingnan yung sasakyan kung meron bang sira, kung ang gulong nila maayos ganun pero very superficial lang, kung ano lang nakikita sa mata,” he added.

The LTO chief listed some of the requirements that traditional jeepneys should pass before they operate.

“Una yung makina, kailangan malinis ang makina, yung kanilang calibration, motor oil, motor fluid—lahat yan iche-check na kailangan maayos at kumpleto lahat. Iba pa yung smoke belching, pero iche-check rin po yung brakes, alignment, yung under chassis, iche-check po lahat yan to ensure road-worthiness,” Mendoza said.

“Hindi po pwede yung—alam mo may mga chassis tayo na winelding lang para humaba yung sasakyan [...] Simula next year wala na tayong visual inspection lang. Talagang pagdidiinan na natin yung roadworthiness,” he added.

Mendoza also shared that they were fixing their mobile motor vehicle inspection plan to accommodate jeepney drivers and operators easily.

“Inaayos rin po natin yung mobile motor vehicle inspection, sila na lang ang pupuntahan sa bahay po nila [...] Dapat lahat ng tests pasaho po sila,” he said.