Strict implementation of Clean Air Act on vehicles urged

Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc. (CAMPI) president Jose Ch. Alvarez urged yesterday the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) to strictly implement the Clean Air Act provision on vehicle emission standards.

"It is high time for the DOTC to fully implement the very explicit requirement of the Clean Air Act for all imported used vehicles to present Certificate of Compliance to Emission Standards (CCES) from the country of origin as a basis for the DOTC to issue its own Certificate of Emission Compliance," Alvarez said.

Alvarez argued further that "considering the age and condition of imported used vehicles, there is indeed an urgency to ensure that these used vehicles comply with the requirements of the Clean Air Act."

The CAMPI president warned that continuing non-implementation of the emission standards certificate requirement "only defeats the objective of the Clean Air Act but would be detrimental to the health of our people and the environment in general."

Alvarez welcomed the recent pronouncement of Trade and Industry Secretary Cesar V. Purisima supporting the requirement of the CCES before a used car can be registered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

However, aside from the emission standards compliance, CAMPI is also urging the government to ensure the safety and roadworthiness of imported used vehicles being converted from right hand drive to left hand drive.

Improper conversion, CAMPI warned, poses a danger to motorists and the general public.

The government is resorting to other means of restricting imported used cars as it cannot still implement a ban on importing used vehicles.

Used car importers have been able to get a restraining order against government implementing the ban.

Used car importers are questioning the legality of the ban as it supposedly goes against the Philippines’ trade commitment to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The continuing inability of the government to stop used car imports is preventing the local automobile industry as well as the auto parts industry from growing.