Makati summons owners of smoke-belching cars

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City government has summoned owners of around 1,500 cars issued violation tickets for smoke belching to claim their confiscated license plates and pay the corresponding fines.

Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay ordered the city’s legal department to issue the summons after learning that the fines have not been settled within three days after being issued tickets, as prescribed under Republic Act 8749 or the Clean Air Act.

The vehicles must also be subjected to a smoke emission test before their owners can pay the fines.

Binay warned motorists against executing affidavits of loss for their confiscated license plates just to avoid paying the fines. He said he has ordered the Makati Pollution Control Office to coordinate with the Land Transportation Office “to establish an efficient monitoring system that would block any attempt to skirt round the law and obtain new license plates to replace those that are actually in the custody of MPCO.”