QC suspends anti-smoke belching drive

MANILA, Philippines - Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista yesterday announced the temporary suspension of the enforcement of the city’s anti-smoke belching campaign this month.

Bautista said the suspension was made to give the transport sector “sufficient time” to comply with the provisions of the city’s ordinance on anti-smoke belching.

In a statement, the city mayor said the postponement was 15 days longer than what was previously granted by the city government.

During the moratorium, Bautista urged transport operators and drivers to undertake the necessary repair and maintenance of their respective vehicles, especially on fuel emissions, which to date, have been blamed as the largest contributor to urban air pollution.

Already, the city government has passed an ordinance creating and adopting guidelines on anti-smoke belching for motor vehicles.

Bautista said he sees the need to set standards for a comprehensive policy and program for air quality management and control of air pollution.

The city’s Environmental Protection and Waste Management Department (EPWMD), headed by Frederika Rentoy, leads in implementing the emission standards for motor vehicles in the city as provided for in Republic Act No. 8749 or the Clean Air Act. It also provides corresponding fines and penalties to violators.

For motorcycles and tricycles violating emission limits, fines range from P100 to P500.

For both public utility vehicles and private vehicles, fines range from P1,000 to P5,000.

From January to Nov. 30 this year, the EPWMD’s anti-smoke belching unit has already apprehended about 7,663 violators, with the city collecting about P6.9 million in fines.

The city government is also set on operating its own in-house emission center next year to boost further its campaign against smoke belchers.

Plans are also underway to operate in-house emission centers in every congressional district of Quezon City.