Lto to ban vehicles with cfc airconditioners

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will soon ban vehicles with airconditioning units that use chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

In a statement, LTO chief Assistant Secretary Anneli Lontoc said that starting May 22, the agency will not renew the registration of vehicles with Mobile Air Conditioners (MACs) that contain CFCs.

A Random Roadside Inspection (RRI) will be conducted twice a month to check on the vehicles.

For the first offense, the operator or owner will be warned and ordered to immediately convert its MAC to a non-CFC system. For the second offense and succeeding offenses, a fine of P10,000 will be imposed.

A motor vehicle owner or operator will be required to specify the MAC system and refrigerant type information in the Motor Vehicle Inspection Report (MVIR) form during registration.

All motor vehicles manufactured from Jan. 1, 1999 should have hydroflourocarbon (HFC) 134a or R-134a system. Any vehicle found to have been converted to R-12 will not be registered unless converted back to HFC 134a.

Prior to renewal of registration, all motor vehicles that have been penalized for violating the provisions of the RRI will be required to present the vehicle to any Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Regional Office, LTO Regional Office and LTO Motor Vehicle Inspection Service (MVIS) for the validation service.