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MANILA, Philippines – Don’t want your car to become a smoke belcher? The government says you can have your vehicle checked for air-polluting emissions for free on Monday, November 17 – the country’s first National Check Your Car Day.
On November 17, owners of all types of motor vehicles can get their free motor vehicle emission testing at around 500 participating private emission testing centers nationwide. The service usually costs P450 per motor vehicle.
Only vehicles registered with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), around 7 million in all, can avail of the free service, according to the Coalition of Clean Air Advocates (CCAA).
The event is part of the Clean Air Month celebration this November. It is a joint project of the CCAA, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Health (DOH).
It is meant to “encourage awareness among motor vehicle owners that the privilege to own cars comes with the responsibility of maintaining these cars,” reads a November 14 press statement from the CCAA.
Aside from National Check Your Car Day, the DENR’s Environment Management Bureau (EMB), through its Air Quality Management Section (AQMS), will conduct a series of free garage emission testing and lectures in selected bus terminals in Quezon City, Pasig City, and San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan from November 4 to 20.
Smoke belching cars cause deadly respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and contribute to global warming by spewing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, added the group.
Around 80% of air pollution in Metro Manila comes from motor vehicle emissions, according to the DENR.
By the end of 2013, Metro Manila air was unable to meet internationally recognized safe levels. Air quality in the megacity was 114 ug/ncm (micrograms per normal cubic meter of air). International standards peg the ideal level at 90 ug/ncm. (READ: End Metro Manila traffic, fund sustainable transport)
Ten out of 11 cases of respiratory diseases in the country have been attributed to filthy air. (READ: Air pollution boosts lung, heart risks) – With reports from Pia Ranada/Rappler.com
Smoke belching image via Shutterstock
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