Smoke-belch tests resume today

Starting today, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) will not process the registration of all motor vehicles that do not pass smoke-emission tests.

Initially, only private and government vehicles were required to undergo the tests in compliance with the Republic Act 8749, or the Clean Air Act of 1999.

According to LTO information officer Farly Viola, the agency intends to vigorously implement the anti-smoke belching program to provide clean air to future generations of Filipinos.

"This will be a no-nonsense campaign to ensure the compliance of everyone. We have to do this to protect our environment," he said.

Last Oct. 1, the LTO implemented the program for all vehicles in Metro Manila, but later recalled the order two weeks later due to the opposition from various transport organizations.

Public transport groups maintained that there were not enough test centers to accommodate vehicles. This promoted the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) to order the LTO to temporarily exempt passenger utility vehicles from the program.

The DOTC had set the full implementation of the program for Jan. 2.

Various studies showed that motor vehicles are the primary source of air pollution in the country.

In Metro Manila alone, there are about 55,596 jeepneys, utility vehicles and FX taxis; 52,932 motorcycles and tricycles; 11,086 passenger buses, 5,000 sedan taxis, 6,619 "for hire" trucks and some 883,699 private cars and vans.

Viola noted that apart from the smoke-emission tests conducted on vehicles scheduled for registration, enforcers from the LTO and other concerned agencies would continuously make roadside apprehension of smoke belchers.

Under the scheme, enforcers will flag down vehicles that emit black smoke. These vehicles will then be tested using portable smoke-emission testing devices.

Viola assured the public that there are enough duly-accredited private emission testing centers (PETC) to check the estimated 12 million motor vehicles nationwide.

These have been screened strictly by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to ensure that no fly-by-night centers can participate in the program.

The government decided to tap the private sector pending the establishment of testing facilities in all the regional offices of the LTO.

At present, the LTO has such facilities only in Metro Manila, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu and Davao City.

"In every LTO district office, there are one or two PETCs. This will ensure that vehicles are properly tested for smoke emission," Viola said.