LTO asks netizens for help going after smoke belchers

Admitting that it does not have enough personnel to go after smoke belchers, the Land Transportation Office is asking commuters and motorists to use their smartphones to document violators of the Clean Air Act in the streets of Metro Manila.

"[A]ll of us hold a cellphone camera. Kung pwede videohan niyo, picture-an niyo ang nage-emit ng black smoke na sasakyang ito para agad-agad ipapatawag natin ang sasakyang ito at ite-test natin. Kapag hindi siya nakapasa, ipe-penalize natin siya," said LTO spokesperson Jose Mari Salvador.

The LTO apprehended only 10,179 smoke belchers in Metro Manila last year and 3,476 in the first quarter of 2015.

"Aside from conducting emission testing prior to vehicular registration, nagcoconduct din tayo ng roadside inspection. But despite this, sa tingin natin kulang pa rin because we cannot be on the road 24 hours a day, 7 days a week," said Salvador.

Videos or pictures of smoke-belching vehicles can be sent to ltombox@lto.gov.ph.

Air pollution levels

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, particulate matter (PM) is "a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets" that include "acids (such as nitrates and sulfates), organic chemicals, metals, and soil or dust particles."

PM small enough to be inhaled include gases emitted from motor vehicles, and "can affect the heart and lungs and cause serious health effects."

The international Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) defines suspended particulate matter (SPM) as "finely divided solids or liquids that may be dispersed through the air from combustion processes, industrial activities or natural sources."

According to Environmental Management Bureau Director Jonas Leones, the National Capital Region's air pollution exceeds the maximum safe level: Metro Manila's SPM level is measured at 128 micrograms per normal cubic meter (ug/ncm), well above the maximum safe level of 90 ug/ncm.

"[Y]ung PM, 2.5 [microns] is so fine, talagang when you inhale it diretso sa lungs at sa iyong bloodstream so 'yun ang delikado," said Leones.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which has 17 monitoring stations in Metro Manila, reports that the cities of Pasay and Caloocan have the highest air pollution levels in the capital region.

No-contact apprehension campaign

This month, the DENR, the LTO and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will launch a no-contact apprehension campaign against smoke belchers. "Gagamitin namin CCTV ng MMDA," said LEones. "We will be assigning personnel to view kung sino mga smoke belcher, then ipapasa namin sa LTO. LTO will then issue the subpoena."

According to the DENR, as the main implementor of the Clean Air Act it is also working to increase the use of fuel that is Euro 4-compliant— or fuels that are formulated to meet European emission standards, which require a maximum sulfur content of only 50 parts per million. The current Philippine standard is still Euro 2-compliant, which allows a maximum sulfur content of 500 parts per million. — BM, GMA News