Smoke-belch tests now mandatory

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) started yesterday the enforcement of smoke-emission tests, a mandatory procedure before any vehicle can renew registration with the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Under the rules, vehicles will not be allowed to renew registration without a certificate of emission compliance. The requirement covers all motor vehicles, including motorcycles.

Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza said yesterday private emission testing centers will deploy mobile equipment that will conduct free tests for one week, starting yesterday up to Oct. 7.

To accommodate all vehicles for testing, the DOTC has authorized private emission testing centers (PETCs) previously accredited by the Department of Trade and Industry.

There are now nine DTI accredited and DOTC-LTO authorized PETCs in Metro Manila with 32 lanes available, on top of the mobile testers at the LTO district offices.

The PETCs in Metro Manila are Boher Emission Test Center, Maysilo Street, Mandaluyong City; Maple Emission Test Center; Block 1, Lot 7 and 8 Soldiers Hill, Barangay Putatan, Muntinlupa City; Lottex Inc., Rizal Ave., Brgy. San Isidro, Taytay, Rizal; Royjuls Emission Test, 370 Mayon St., Quezon City; BSC Emission Testing Center, 102 Samson Road, Caloocan City; Tower Emission Test Center Co., Jomon Bldg., Brixton St., Bo. Kapitolyo, Pasig City; Signet, EDSA, Mandaluyong City; Diamond, Quezon City; Marcor, E. Rodriguez. – Sheila Crisostomo