Smoke belchers down by 50 percent

The number of smoke-belching vehicles along EDSA has gone down by 50 percent since the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority resumed its anti-smoke belching operations last April 2001.

Based on the data accumulated by the Anti-Smoke Belching Task Force (ASBTF) of the MMDA, the testing teams situated along EDSA-Estrella have recorded less smoke belching vehicles passing by their area.

The two Anti-Smoke Belching teams situated along the north and south bound lanes of EDSA are required to count the number of smoke belching vehicles that pass by their areas even if they are not apprehended.

In January and February last year before the MMDA resumed its anti-smoke belching operations, the average number of smoke belching vehicles was at 500 to 800 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

However, since the MMDA resumed its operations last April, the number of vehicles dropped by half.

Director Mon Santiago of the MMDA-ASBTF noted that there are two possible reasons for the drop. He explained that the owners of diesel engine vehicles might have fixed their vehicles to prevent the emission of black smoke.

The other possibility is that drivers have started avoiding the areas where the anti-smoke belching teams are located to prevent being flagged down. "They might just be using alternate routes to avoid being caught," Santiago said.

The fear of diesel engine vehicle owners could be attributed to the efficiency of the MMDA-ASBTF.

From April to December last year, the MMDA-ASBTF was able to flag down a total of 15,465 smoke belching vehicles.

Out of the total, 95 percent or 14,664 failed tests based on the emission standards provided for under the Clean Air Act. Fifty-five percent of the vehicles that failed were Utility Vehicles composed of pick-up trucks, Asian Utility Vehicles and delivery trucks.

Public Utility Buses accounted for 27 percent of the total followed by Public Utility Jeeps with nine percent; trucks six percent; and taxis, three percent.

Santiago said that the anti-smoke belching campaign would go full blast by the third week of this month when the local government unit teams start their operations.–Marvin Sy