Loren looks into anomalies in smoke testing for buses

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Loren Legarda has called for an inquiry into the allegations that public utility buses (PUBs) have connived with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to avoid emission testing, which is required for the registration of all motor vehicles.

Legarda has filed a resolution for the Senate committee on environment and natural resources to look into the matter after seeing the reports and evidence about the irregularity.

“There is reportedly selective emission testing of vehicles whereby buses are being tested by the (LTO) of the Department of Transportation and Communications while private vehicles and other public utility vehicles are being tested in different private emission testing centers,” she said.

Legarda said she has received reports of falsification of entries into the LTO’s database whereby photos of emission testing of PUBs have been edited and reused to make it appear that the buses have gone through the necessary tests for registration.

She said the buses were in effect circumventing the provisions of the Clean Air Act with the help of the LTO.

Under Article IV, Section 22 of the Clean Air Act of 1999, “no motor vehicle registration shall be issued unless such motor vehicle passes the emission testing requirement promulgated by the law.”

In fact, emission testing being done along EDSA and other major thoroughfares have targeted only private vehicles even when the PUBs passing along are visibly smoke belching.

“There appears to be an apparent lapse in the LTO’s fulfillment of its mandate under the law, which lessens the impact emission testing should have in improving the condition of air quality in the metropolis,” Legarda said.

Legarda also wants to see an assessment of the quality of air in the country, particularly in the major urban centers such as Metro Manila.

“Although Metro Manila air is improving, it is still below standards and is still considered unsafe, with EDSA being the most polluted area in the metropolis,” she said.