emission testing centers

SRN-734: Emission Testing Centers

RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE APPROPRIATE SENATE COMMITTEES TO CONDUCT AN INQUIRY, IN AID OF LEGISLATION, ON THE EFFICIENCY OF EMISSION TESTING CENTERS IN THE ISSUANCE OF EMISSION COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES AS ONE OF THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF THE LAND TRANSPORTATION OFFICE BEFORE A VEHICLE IS PROCESSED FOR RENEWAL REGISTRATION

Whereas, Republic Act (RA) No. 8749 otherwise known as the “Philippine Clean Air Act” was approved last 23 June 1999. One of its primary objectives is to maintain the quality of air and protect human life from the dangers of air pollution. The national government should be able to provide for a holistic national program of air pollution management through cooperation and self-regulation to be mainly focused on pollution prevention rather than control;

Whereas, RA 8749 and its implementing rules and regulations provide that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), through the Land Transportation Office (L TO), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) shall formulate and implement the National Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program that will promote the efficient and safe operation of motor vehicles and ensure the reduction of emissions from motor vehicles. The inspection and maintenance program requires all vehicles, as a requisite for renewal of registration, to undergo mandatory inspection to determine compliance with the in-use emission standards;

Whereas, interagency collaboration and cooperation had indeed been a challenge since the passage of the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 and thereby giving rise to the need to assess the enforcement capacity of these agencies since they share the responsibility in the management and maintenance of air quality in the country. The continuing increase in motor vehicles, lack of mass public transit system, and worsening traffic conditions further contribute to increasing air pollution;

Whereas, there had been reports that the private and public emission testing centers in LTD are remiss in their duties in properly implementing the law through the issuance of false emission compliance certificates (ECCs). Needless to state, all motor vehicles (MV) must comply with exhaust emission standards prior to registration and operation in public highways. However, some emission testing centers in both private and public levels engage in illegal transactions by allowing motor vehicles to avail of a non-appearance scheme or ghost testing of these . vehicles wherein they made it appear that said vehicles are inspected and subjected to the tests in exchange of additional fees;

Whereas, the national government should be able to provide a quick systematic solution to the proliferation of these false ECCs in order to promote overall motor vehicle safety and prescribe an intensive convergence program towards the full implementation of the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved to direct the appropriate Senate committees to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the efficiency of emission testing centers in the issuance of Emission Compliance Certificates as one of the basic requirements of the Land Transportation Office before a vehicle is processed for renewal registration.

 

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Increase Penalties for Corrupt Emission Centers! – Sen. Bam

Senator Bam Aquino stressed the need to stiffen penalties for corrupt private emission testing centers (PETC) to help combat the worsening air pollution in the country.

During the hearing of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship which he chairs, Aquino discovered that a number of PETCS were sending fake emission results to the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

“Using current photo-editing technology such as Photoshop, these corrupt PETCs edit the plate number to make it appear that a vehicle underwent emission testing,” Aquino said.

In the same hearing, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) revealed that if all cars will abide by Clean Air Act standards, air quality in Metro Manila would be in normal range.

“How can we improve the quality of air in the country if these corrupt PETCs continue to exist,” Aquino said, referring to a data that automobiles contribute 80 percent to air pollution in Metro Manila.

Aquino also expressed alarm after it was brought to his attention that erring PETCs only receive a penalty of P30,000 and a 30-day suspension.

“We need to revisit the penalties being imposed by the LTO on PETCs for not doing their job mandated by law,” said Aquino.

Aside from penalties, Aquino also urged the LTO to file falsification of public document charges against owners of erring PETCs for sending fake testing results.

Earlier, Aquino has filed a Senate Resolution 734 to investigate reports that some PETCs engage in illegal activities such as non-appearance scheme or ghost testing of motor vehicles in exchange for additional fees.

The emission compliance certificate is one of the basic requirements of the LTO before a vehicle is processed for renewal registration.

In his resolution, Aquino said illegal activities by some testing centers defeat the purpose of Republic Act 9749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act, which was passed in 1999 to maintain the quality of air and protect human life from the dangers of air pollution.

Under the Clean Air Act, a National Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program has been established to promote the efficient and safe operation of motor vehicles and ensure the reduction of emissions from motor vehicles.

“It is important to have cars checked properly because the leading cause of diseases in the country has to do with the respiratory system,” he said.

Probe on Crooked Emission Testing Centers – Sen. Bam

Senator Bam Aquino is alarmed by reports that some emission testing centers engage in illegal activities such as non-appearance scheme or ghost testing of motor vehicles in exchange for additional fees.

“There had been reports that the private and public emission testing centers in LTO are remiss in their duties in properly implementing the law through the issuance of false emission compliance certificates (ECCs),” Aquino said.

In line with this, Aquino filed a resolution seeking to look into the efficiency of emission testing centers in the issuance of ECC as one of the basic requirements of the Land Transportation Office before a vehicle is processed for renewal registration.

Aquino said illegal activities by some testing centers defeat the purpose of Republic Act 9749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act, which was passed in 1999 to maintain the quality of air and protect human life from the dangers of air pollution.

Under the Clean Air Act, a National Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Program has been established to promote the efficient and safe operation of motor vehicles and ensure the reduction of emissions from motor vehicles.

As part of the program, vehicles are required to undergo inspection and maintenance program as a requisite for renewal of registration and mandatory inspection to determine compliance with the in-use emission standards.

“The national government should be able to provide a quick systematic solution to the proliferation of these false ECCs in order to promote overall motor vehicle safety and prescribe an intensive convergence program towards the full implementation of the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999,” Aquino said.

Aquino said continuing increase in motor vehicles, lack of mass public transit system, and worsening traffic conditions further contribute to increasing air pollution.

“Needless to state, all motor vehicles (MV) must comply with exhaust emission standards prior to registration and operation in public highways,” he said.

With the increasing air pollution, the Philippines is now ranked 114th in the recent Environmental Performance Index (EPI) report released by Yale University in terms of environmental performance of a state’s policies

In terms of air quality, the Philippines ranked 85th and 110th in health impacts.

According to latest data from the Department of Health (DOH), 60 percent of lung cancer cases and other respiratory related diseases in the Philippines are because of air pollution.

 

 

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