Graft investigators ordered to probe proliferation of smoke-belching vehicles

Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez has instructed the government's graft investigators to look into the possible violations committed by certain officials of the Land Transportation Office and private emission testing centers, which resulted in the proliferation of smoke-belching vehicles in the streets.

Gutierrez wondered how the operators of smoke-belching vehicles were able to renew the registration of their units.

The anti-graft chief herself has listed some smoke-belching vehicles that she saw while traveling to and from her office. She observed that the most common smoke-belchers are passenger buses and jeepneys, followed by trucks, delivery vans and some private vehicles.

In Cebu, there are several private emission testing centers located near the Land Transportation Offices such as in Danao City, Cebu City, Talisay City, Carcar and Lapu-Lapu City. They conduct smoke testing of vehicles and issue Certificate of Emission Compliance if the vehicle passes the test. The certificate is a requirement for the renewal of the motor vehicle's registration.

The operation of these testing centers are supervised by a joint team composed of representatives from the Land Transportation Office, Departments of Trade and Industry, Environment and Natural Resources and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Still many of the public utility jeepneys, buses and trucks in Cebu City emit black smoke, an indication that its engines are no longer in good condition.

Smoke coming from vehicle engines is one of the causes of air pollution, which creates a hazard to general health. Other long-term health effects of air pollution include respiratory diseases, lung cancer, heart disease and even damage to the brain, nerves, liver, or kidneys.

Some personnel of the City Traffic Operations Management sometimes conduct mobile checkpoints to check for smoke-belching vehicles in the streets and require operators to have them corrected within a given period. - Rene U. Borromeo/BRP