80 percent of air pollution in Metro Manila comes from cars

More than 80 percent of the air pollution in Metro Manila came from motor vehicles, a study by the Environmental Management Bureau has shown.

A report from Bernadette Reyes on 24 Oras on Wednesday said air pollution reaches about 250 micrograms per normal cubic meters on EDSA during peak hours, more than double the allowable level of 90 micrograms per ncm set by the World Health Organization.

Environment Secretary Gina Lopez blamed private emission testing centers (PETC) for fake test results that allow smoke-belchers on the streets.

"It's the corrupt PETC that take the bribe. It's the corrupt PETC that take the non-appearance and then they pay people in LTO," Lopez said.

Among the smoke-belchers plying the streets include the jeepneys of Jovito Calingacoin and Dames de Asis.

Calingacion said he already suffered from tuberculosis twice because of the emissions of his vehicle.

"Nagkasakit nga ko TB dahil sa uso... Walang ibang trabaho," he said.

De Asis, on the other hand, admitted he failed to have his jeepney repaired due to lack of funds.

"No choice tayo kahit mausok diyan titiisin natin para makakita ng pera," de Asis said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation issued a department order transferring the powers of the Land Transportation Office to the agency to authorize and monitor PETCs.

"If certificate of emission compliance is void because the test result is falsified, then the registration is void also. It can be cancelled," DOTr Investigation Security and Law Enforcement director Jer Samson said.

LTO Law and Enforcement director Francis Ray Almora said the agency already has programs to apprehend the owners of smoke belching vehicles.

Almora added the LTO only has concerns on dilapidated equipment to fully implement roadside inspections and apprehend the owners of smoke-belchers.

"Naka-program yung pag-repair sa motor vehicle inspection center pagbili ng gas analyzer at smoke emission testing machine," he said. —NB, GMA News