Environmental advocates on Thursday blamed Metro Manila’s poor quality to corruption at the motor vehicle emission testing process at the Land Transportation Office (LTO).
According to the Coalition of Clean Air Advocates of the Philippines (CCAAP), the practice of “no show” and “nonappearance” at private emission testing centers (PETC) accredited by the LTO remains rampant and should be stopped.
Members of CCAAP trooped to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and called on Transportation Secretary Emilio Joseph A. Abaya to take immediate action and stop the corrupt practices at PETC.
“Eighty percent of air pollution in Metro Manila comes from unabated emissions of motor vehicles and the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 requires all motor vehicles to undergo and pass a mandatory emission test before LTO can register them,” Dr. Benito Atienza, a trustee of CCAAP, said in a statement.
Jonathan L. Mayuga