Editorial
The controversial emission testing centers
Seeming ignorance of the Clean Air Act or incapability of the LTO to properly implement it following its passage not so recently is starting to get on the nerves of the riding public. The proliferation of smoke-belchers on the road apparently more pronounced now than before, has caused pollution of the air more marked and consequent protests rallied against it have become correspondingly numerous, especially in Metro-Manila where media-watch is extensive.
The situation out here in the province is no different, even if media coverage, characteristically promdi, is rather limited.
Private motorists like us in media and even PUVs which have been religiously complying with the CA law, are endlessly annoyed plying national and provincial roads and forever dogging toxic smoke spewing from exhaust pipes of buses and passenger jeepneys, including motor bikes and trikes.
In Dagupan City, where the streets are many and narrow because of the city proper’s limited range, law-abiding car and PUV drivers go through a nightmare, bear up with black smoke during traffic stall which is often, then proceed with more poison filling the air as the smoke-belchers ahead begin to rev up.
Suspicions are rife here, even if unconfirmed, that some LTOs (excluding this city) in the province have joined the legion of unconcerned private smoke emission testing centers in mulcting illegal additional pesos in exchange for clearance certificates through some dubious LTO-accredited private ETCs.
Public suspicion of some LTO’s being involved in this car registration shenanigan is further bolstered, not necessarily confirmed, by the prevalence of more smoke-belchers on the road up to now despite the enactment of the Clean Air Act many years ago.
Or is the present economic crunch too sweeping as not to exclude even some law-enforcing authorities at the LTO that no positive efforts have so far been taken to minimize if not eradicate the number of poisonous fume-spewers on the road?
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