DENR blamed for slack in anti-pollution drive

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) blamed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) yesterday for the delayed deputation of enforcers of the anti-smoke belching campaign.

Daisy Jacobo, head of LTO-Traffic Safety Division, said that until now, the DENR has not come up with the training module to be used to train those who would apprehend smoke-belchers.

"We’re not trying to pass the buck. But the buck is not with us. Our hands are tied. We cannot train these people without that training module," Jacobo noted.

Sources from the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) alleged earlier that smoke-belching vehicles have become more prevalent along EDSA because no apprehensions were being made.

MMDA stopped conducting anti-smoke belching operations when its deputation expired at the end of last year and has yet to be renewed by the LTO.

This left the LTO which has around 50 enforcers, and a volunteer group of ABS-CBN Channel 2 as the only ones enforcing the campaign. MMDA would have contributed 2,000 enforcers.

But even with lack of manpower, Jacobo refused to admit that the campaign was going nowhere. "It’s not about numbers. We’re after the quality of enforcers and the quality of arrests made."

Jacobo warned that the apprehension could be a tool for corruption if LTO deputizes irresponsible and untrained enforcers.

"We also have to ensure that those who ask for our deputation have enough proper equipment to test vehicles. There are actually many local government units and non-government organizations that are interested," she added.

The formulation of the training module was stipulated in the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 8749 or the Clean Air Act. The law was fully implemented starting November last year.

She said that LTO had expected the module to be released last year but the DENR did not deliver. "We have to wait for the module. LTO is committed to implement this law and part of its commitment is to strictly choose the people that it will involve in the program," Jacobo added. – Sheila Crisostomo