LTO enforces DENR’s smoke standard

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has adopted high-tech measures to ensure that all vehicles for registration passes smoke standards set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Reynaldo Berroya, LTO chief, said that its IT partners – Stradcom Corp. Emission Testing Center Information Technology (ETCP), Eurolink Network International, Oacis software development, and Computer Real Data Management Services – have started to use the more efficient version of the Private Emission Testing Center-Information Technology Facility (PETC-ITF).

The measure was put into test during real-time and online authentication of submitted Certificates of Emission Compliance (CEC) to the LTO.

The upgraded PETC-ITF was able to manage the volume of transactions that the LTO processes everyday. Notwithstanding the number of transactions during peak hours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the operations at the PETCs went smoothly, proving that the system optimization was successful.

The LTO is pushing for the installation of web cameras at PETCs across the country to counter the proliferation of the so-called "non appearance" schemes introduced by some testing centers.

With these measures in place, fake CECs will be eliminated because the system automatically looks for the CEC number of accredited PETC.

The interconnectivity measure also ensures that no private motor vehicle will be registered without passing the smoke standards set by DENR in accordance with the Clean Air Act of 1999. – Perseus Echeminada