The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) encourages car owners to regularly check their cars and ensure that these undergo routine maintenance to avoid contributing to air pollution.
The DENR, along with the Coalition of Clean Air Advocates of the Philippines (CCAAP), led a nationwide campaign promoting vehicle inspection and maintenance consciousness among motorists.
The Second National Check Your Car Day, with the theme “Clean Air through National Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Awareness,” is the culminating activity for the observance of Clean Air Month.
More than 500 private emission testing centers (PETCs) nationwide, 100 of which are in Metro Manila, were mobilized by the CCAAP for the event by providing free vehicle emission test to volunteered vehicles registered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
DENR Secretary Ramon Paje expressed hope that the event would encourage vehicle owners to “practice the initiative of maintaining their vehicles to help achieve cleaner air.”
“We advocate the need for each vehicle owner to consciously inspect and maintain his vehicle, not only to ensure its longevity and good condition, but also to reduce its potential to contribute to air pollution,” he urged.
During the event, several members of the Anti-Smoke Belching Units (ASBUs) tested the emissions of vehicles of the department, its employees, the Quezon City local government, several public utility jeepneys, and other interested parties.
Paje, however, clarified that the results of the test may not be used for registration purposes, “but solely for owners to know the state of their vehicles and be encouraged to maintain them.”
Around 80 percent of air pollution in the country comes from mobile sources or motorized vehicles. The rest are from open burning and stationary sources like factories. To reduce smoke-belchers on the road, the LTO has required emission testing of vehicles prior to registration.
The DENR had ordered the installation of closed circuit television cameras to monitor emission testing in all PETCs, and partnered with local government units to form ASBUs that apprehend smoke-belchers. Emission tests have also been conducted in the garages of bus operators.
DENR Assistant Secretary and concurrent EMB Director Juan Miguel Cuna said that these efforts were not to catch as many violators as possible, but to help the public.
The DENR has also coordinated with the Department of Energy for the imposition of stricter emission standards for vehicles, directing the transition of fuel use from Euro2 to Euro4[1] standards starting July 2015.
The government is also promoting the use of e-vehicles or conversion to the use of alternative fuels like compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, and biofuels.
– From the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
[1] Euro4 fuels have a sulfur content of only 50 parts per million (PPM), compared to 500 PPM for Euro2.
