AN OFFICIAL of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environment Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) in Davao Region, the lead agency that implements the Clean Air Act of 1999, sees the need to strengthen the Anti-Smoke Belching Units (Asbu), the body designated to monitor erring motorists who are non-compliant to the smoke-emission standard.
Melvin Dapitanon, Airshed Focal Person of DENR-EMB, in an interview during Kapehan sa Dabaw on Monday, October 30, said there is a need to intensify the team to prevent vehicles from traversing the national road that didn't underwent emission testing and regular car check-up or maintenance.
He, however, admitted that due to insufficient manpower resources, the deployment of ASBU is not on a regular basis.
"Ang problema natin hindi mamonitor in the sense na kulang ang manpower resources so dapat everyday there is ASBU unit who will monitor," she said.
The team is tasked to monitor smoke belching vehicles and impose appropriate sanctions on vehicle owners according to law.
Dapitanon also said some drivers, after renewal or registration, which would require certification as emission complaint, would no longer subject their vehicles on regular check-up or tune-up every six months.
The City Government passed the Anti-Smoke Belching Ordinance of Davao City in 2006 to protect the air quality of the Davao City Airshed declared under the Clean Air Act and formed Asbu to enforce its provision.
Based on the emission inventory conducted last 2015, around 70 percent of the pollutant comes from mobile sources, 20 percent is the stationary sources and 10 percent from area sources of the residences.
Thus, in line with the Clean air month and National Awareness Month in November, the Davao City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) will conduct Joint Emission Testing of Government vehicles on November 8 at Rizal Park, San Pedro Street, Davao City to further promote awareness on the importance of regular emission testing for the maintenance of air quality and prevent the worsening of air pollution.
Virginia Pusod of Cenro said the activity will start from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in coordination with the Land Transportation Office (LTO)-Davao and DENR-EMB.
They will also have a Garage Emission Testing at Bachelor Express Garage Ma-a as she encourages the drives to avail of the free testing.
“It’s a free testing you are all welcome to get your vehicles tested,” Pusod said.