But the most disconcerting job I have seen so far in my motoring beat are those gate keepers and security guards tasked to either inspect the vehicle coming in or the persons whose jobs are to hand out parking or toll tickets or receive payment for the service.

These employees are mostly hired as “casuals” and do not have the necessary benefits (health and others) to either protect them from the potential harm that they are constantly exposed to.

Every day we see parking lot attendants, security guards and even inspectors standing by the wayside of lanes leading to parking buildings and spaces, unaware that they are consistently inhaling harmful air from the exhausts of the very cars that they are watching over.

And this is not a situation wherein you smell the fumes and then walk away, but a constant, eight-hour exposure to exhaust emissions, one of the leading causes of respiratory cancer in the world.

Dr. Nilo Tayag of the Philippine General Hospital said this is one of the major causes of tuberculosis, lung deficiency syndromes and even the dreaded emphysema.

“These tollgate keepers consistently inhale the exhaust of every car that passes by them. Imagine the thousand of cars that pass through them and the amount of toxic fumes they inhale when the vehicles go through. Imagine the damage these toxic fumes do to their noses, lungs, eyes, lips,” Tayag explained.

Rita is one of these toll gate attendants at SM North. She has been at the job for one-and-a-half years. Being a casual employee, she does not have any healthcare benefits except for a paltry clause in her contract.

Rita has just been diagnosed with an early stage of lung infection that may lead to TB if not addressed immediately. She needs extensive medical care, rest, expensive medicines.

But Rita continues to report to her job as a parking toll gate attendant, without the necessary medical assistance from her agency. “Hindi puwede tumigil sa trabaho, sir, may anak ako sa Grade 3, hindi kami mabubuhay pag tumigil ako [I cannot afford to stop working, sir, I have a child in Grade 3 and we will not survive if I do not go to work],” Rita lamented.

Rita’s physician says it may not be long before the infection turns into full-blown TB if not addressed soon and properly. But the agency that hired Rita says her benefits only cover for ordinary sickness like flu and influenza and the sort. The lung problem is not a part of it.

“Hindi ho sakop ng kontrata ni Rita ’yung pagpapagamot ng TB. Trangkaso puwede pero hindi ho TB [Rita’s contract does not cover TB, flu yes, TB no],” the administrative officer, who requested anonymity, said.

“Lahat ho yang mga parking attendants naming ganyan ang laman ng kontrata, tsaka hanggang limang buwan lang kontrata nila. Si Rita, pag nalaman ang kondisyon niya, tiyak mawawalan ng trabaho ’yan, kaya tinatago niya [All attendants have the same contract, renewed every five months, that’s why Rita is hiding her condition. She will lose her job if they find out],” elaborated the agency supervisor.

Right now, there are at least 2,200 paid parking lots in Metro Manila—from the huge structures to the ground level only kind. Every parking facility employs at least 30 employees, who work in eight-hour shifts.

Most parking structures do not have adequate ventilation, especially those in condominiums, malls and high-rise office buildings. Dr. Tayag says this contributes to the rising incidence of lung diseases in metropolitan areas of the country, especially Metro Manila.

No law has been passed to address this issue. In fact, a check with both the Senate and House records shows not even a bill has been filed to look into the matter.

Meanwhile, millions die of respiratory diseases in the country and a big percentage may have been caused by this ignored issue. “Who knows, baka sa ibang lugar nagsimula tapos hawa-hawa na ’yung ibang dumaming kaso [maybe it started from another place and then contamination is causing the other increasing cases],” added Tayag.

The Philippines has more than five million vehicles on it roads. Every year more than a hundred thousand are added, with 2010 being a banner year. Laws and rules are crafted left and right for these vehicles to be built.

But there are no rules, laws or bills being considered to address the situation of the people on the sidelines being affected severely by this so important industry. These people who are literally “dying for a living.”