LTO: Emission test not just a registration requirement

CEBU, Philippines – Vehicle owners are reminded anew of their responsibility to take part in caring for the environment by submitting their cars and motorcycles to smoke emission tests, even when they are not scheduled to do so.

"Mas maayo nga ang mga vehicle owners di na sila magpaabot og tingrehistro sa ilang mga sakyanan una pa magpa-emission test. If they observe nga mobuga na og itom nga aso ilang sakyanan, ila naning ayuhon," said Joel Maloloy-on, LTO-7 operation chief.

The LTO-7 and the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 has been conducting random roadside emission tests for the past weeks and will continue to do so every Friday of this month.

This is in line with the celebration of Clean Air Month this November with the theme, "Empowering the Youth for a Green ASEAN Community."

Last week, Maloloy-on said they apprehended 16 vehicles for violating the anti-smoke belching law.

Violators were made to pay P2,000 for first offense, while their respective units were also impounded.

Maloloy-on said that the vehicles will be released once it will pass the emission standard test.

Rechale Ybañez, EMB-7 information officer, said that the roadside testing is also done with the Cebu City Transportation Office.

Ybañez added that the EMB-7 will launch the clean air campaign this Friday in a concert at Ayala Center Cebu.

Aside from the concert, EMB-7 will also have some exhibits and awarding of the regional winners for the 2015 Search for Eco-friendly and Sustainable Schools on November 20, 2015. —/ATO (FREEMAN)