Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) – Over a hundred people from the Pacific Civil Resistance collective in Puerto Vallarta took to the streets to protest against the North Coast State Regional Unit (UNIRSE) verification center in Fluvial Vallarta. The protesters expressed dissatisfaction with the center’s operations and decided to blockade its facilities until there was a guarantee that it would be completely suspended.
Despite their peaceful demonstration, the protesters were swiftly displaced by state police officers stationed not only at the main entrance but also around the building. The police force was determined to ensure that normal activities could resume when the facility reopened.
Nevertheless, the protesters remained resolute and refused to leave the premises. They continued to occupy the area and chant slogans, without resorting to violence.
This protest is not the first against the controversial verification center in Puerto Vallarta. Just last Friday, dozens of Vallartans demonstrated against the center, partially blocking lanes of the avenue entering the city for nearly five hours until traffic was permitted to flow normally.
While some agreements were reached during a meeting between the Government of Jalisco authorities and members of the Association of Workshops for Vehicle Emissions and Repairs (ATERVAC) regarding the nonconformities of the verification program, the agreements did not satisfy the representatives of certain organizations.
The Pacific Civil Resistance Collective is adamant that if no other response is provided within 24 hours, they will take further actions to ensure their demands are met.
The outcome of this protest remains uncertain, but it is evident that the Pacific Civil Resistance Collective and other organizations are discontent with the verification program’s operations in Puerto Vallarta.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the government and other authorities will respond to the protesters’ demands.
Currently, the demands include closing emission inspection centers in Puerto Vallarta as the only acceptable solution for the Resistance Collective.
The state government maintains that the collective consists of mechanics who were previously allowed to manage vehicle inspections and defrauded the system by selling verification stickers. The new law transfers inspections from independent mechanics to licensed state-run inspection centers, eliminating independent mechanics from the process and the corruption the state accuses them of.
