Lawmaker wants owners of smoke-belching vehicles penalized

MANILA, Philippines - A senior administration lawmaker is seeking to strengthen the provisions of the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 by transferring the liability for smoke belching from the driver to the owner of the vehicle.

Quezon City Rep. Alfredo Vargas III said his proposal contained in House Bill 6298 seeks to amend Section 46 on Validation of Standards for Motor Vehicles of Republic Act 8749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999.

Vargas said the current version penalizes the drivers and operators of motor vehicles in violation of the emission standards. But these motor vehicles are mostly comprised of trucks and public utility vehicles (PUVs).

He said it can be assumed that the drivers of PUVs are just employees of the owners and do not necessarily have the proper means and control over major repairs of the vehicles.

“With the driver held liable, owners are not compelled to make the necessary vehicle repairs or parts replacement in order to comply with the emission standards.  Thus, the problem of smoke belching is not effectively addressed,” Vargas pointed out.

The lawmaker also pointed out that people in Metro Manila are highly vulnerable to developing cardiovascular illnesses and respiratory diseases due to the worsening air quality in the region.

Citing a partial report of the National Emissions Inventory, Vargas said 85 percent of air pollution in the National Capital Region came from vehicles.

“While the Philippines has enacted laws to attain clean and healthy air quality, further policy review is still needed as these statutes have proven to be inadequate in solving the country’s air pollution problem,” he added.