Nearly half of vehicles inspected in Bohol this year were found to have faulty brakes, igniting worries ahead of a stricter road safety crackdown by the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Vehicle Inspection Centers Operators Association of the Philippines (VICOAP) said.
From January to July 2025, accredited Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers (PMVICs) in the province checked 30,829 vehicles.
Of those, 13,845 — or 45% — failed brake tests, according to VICOAP.
“This is a major road safety concern,” said John Alison Uy, VICOAP board secretary.
“Brake inspections are not yet mandatory in the Philippines. Many vehicle owners may be unknowingly driving with serious brake defects, putting themselves, their passengers, and pedestrians at risk.”
Uy said PMVICs use modern equipment such as roller brake testers, which measure braking efficiency under simulated road conditions.
The system evaluates braking force, wheel imbalances, and signs of worn pads, leaking cylinders, or malfunctioning brake systems.
Unlike visual checks, the tests are computerized and standardized, minimizing human error and aligning with international safety standards.
The group urged motorists to take advantage of a reprieve recently granted by the LTO in Bohol before stricter enforcement begins in September 2025.
VICOAP said its inspection centers are prepared for a surge in demand and are coordinating with the LTO to prevent bottlenecks.
“In support of the LTO’s road safety mandate, we are ready to serve the anticipated surge in inspection demand,” Uy said.
“Our goal is to help motorists meet requirements ahead of the stricter rules and ensure their vehicles are genuinely safe.”
He added that inspections should not be viewed as merely regulatory.
“Every defect we find is one less potential crash on our roads,” he said.
VICOAP, a private non-profit group, works with the Department of Transportation and the LTO to standardize vehicle inspections and promote compliance with the government’s Road Safety Action Plan.
The group said its PMVICs check not only emissions but also brakes, lights, suspension, and other safety systems.
Motorists may visit VICOAP’s official Facebook page for details on accredited PMVICs in Bohol.
