DOTr directs attached agencies to continue going after smoke belchers

MANILA: As skies cleared during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), it opened views of mountain ranges around nearby provinces for residents of the National Capital Region that was previously shrouded by smog and air pollution.

This is what Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur P. Tugade wants to maintain long after any form of community quarantine caused by the pandemic has been lifted.

Yesterday, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and other related government agencies were directed to strictly monitor smoke belching violations to rid the country’s roads of vehicles that do not meet the current emissions standards.

“Dapat siguruhin natin na ang lahat ng mga sasakyan sa kalye ay sumusunod sa pamantayan (We should make sure that all vehicles on the road follow the law),” said Tugade.

This directive is in line with the execution of Republic Act No.8749 or the Clean Air Act of 1999 and also fulfills the agency’s mandate to ensure public health in the transportation sector.

Tugade points out that emissions and pollutants in urban areas of the country come mostly from motorized vehicles.

Aside from visual cues, a study done by experts from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Institute of Environmental Science & Meteorology (IESM) at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, and Airtoday.ph, confirm that air quality in Metro Manila has improved significantly with the continued enforcement of the ECQ.

“Sayang naman ang pagbuti ng air quality, lalo na dito sa Metro Manila ngayong may ECQ, kung babalik lang din sa dati. Look at the aerial landscape now. It is very clean. It is very beautiful. Now, we can see from afar Corregidor and Bataan from Roxas Boulevard because of the very clear horizon. You can see the Sierra Madre Mountain Range as a backdrop of Metro Manila. Our skyline is now smog-free and very beautiful. Napakagandang pagmasdan. Kaya nararapat lamang na maging bahagi ang magandang kalidad ng hangin ng ating ‘new normal’ (It would be regretful if the air quality, especially in Metro Manila, becomes dirty again after the ECQ. Look at the aerial landscape now. It is very clean. It is very beautiful. Now, we can see from afar Corregidor and Bataan from Roxas Boulevard because of the very clear horizon. You can see the Sierra Madre Mountain Range as a backdrop of Metro Manila. Our skyline is now smog-free and very beautiful. It’s so lovely to look at. That’s why it is imperative that great air quality becomes a part of our ‘new normal’),” added Tugade.

In compliance, the LTO will form new measures to intensify implementation of anti-smoke belching rules and regulations.

“Magbubuo kami ng mga hakbang upang mapalawig at mapaigting ang implementasyon laban sa smoke-belching, alinsunod sa direktiba ni Secretary Tugade. (We will come up with new steps to widen and increase the fight versus smoke-belching.) We will revisit the law and cite relevant provisions to intensify the implementation,” the LTO Chief said.

Also read: OPINION: The lockdown that cleansed the world

Photos courtesy of the Department of Transportation