Emission Policy Groups oppose amendments

CEBU, Philippines - Transport groups in Cebu City are opposing the proposed amendments to an existing ordinance providing penalties for violations of vehicle emission policies.

In a public hearing yesterday, the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) – Cebu and Alliance of Transport Organization Members Intra-Cebu (Atomic) expressed to the City Council their sentiments on the proposed amendments to City Ordinance 2111 or the “ordinance providing for vehicle emission policies providing penalties therefore and for other purposes.”

City Councilor Gerardo Carillo has proposed to amend certain provisions of Ordinance 2111 including penalizing any person found violating the ordinance to pay not less than P3,000, but not more than P5,000 or an imprisonment of not less than six months but not more than one year.

The existing ordinance provides the same fines and Carillo clarified that he did not put any additional penalty, but only amended the administrative fine that can be pursued to a criminal offense.

However, PISTON-Cebu President Greg Perez and Atomic President Rudy Laconza said that it is an additional burden for their part if the proposed measure will be approved, citing that there is an existing national law which penalizes violators for the vehicle emission policy, referring to the Republic Act 8749 or the Clean Air Act.

Carillo said that the measure gives benefit to the transport group since the ordinance provides lower penalties compared to the Clean Air Act.

“Naa man pud tay balaod nga kon mapasakaan na ka og local ordinance, dili naka makiha sa national law, so better relief ni para sa mga drivers,” Carillo said.

But Perez insisted that it is an additional burden especially because of the roadside emission testing of the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management.

“Mas maayo ra ba kon tanan ang inspeksyonon sa CITOM, dapat unahon og hinlo ang sakyanan sa gobyerno kay naa pod mi’y makit-an nga sakyanan sa gobyerno nga hugaw kaayo,” he said.

CITOM executive director Rafael Yap, who was present during the public hearing, said that CITOM does not choose any vehicle.  He stressed that whether it is a public, private, or government-owned vehicle, CITOM will apprehend it once it emits polluted smoke.

Yap, who is also a lawyer, said that CITOM supports the proposed measure, adding that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has reported that there is a rising level of black smoke and dust in the city.

He said that CITOM has to conduct the roadside emission testing because the testing conducted by the Land Transportation Office is not as “effective as the roadside testing.”

City Councilor Alvin Dizon has requested the transport groups to follow the rules especially the smoke belching policies because it is the responsibility of everyone to do their part to resolve environment and health concerns.

City Councilor Nida Cabrera proposed that there should be further consultations together with CITOM and transport groups to make them understand the proposed measure.— (FREEMAN)