The Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas is conducting massive regionwide roadside inspection on smoke-belching vehicles to implement the Clean Air Act.

LTO personnel headed by Vicente Gador Jr. have already flagged down more than 300 vehicles violating provisions of the law.

Gador said they were surprised at the number of violators because passing the smoke-emission test is a requirement for the renewal of vehicle registration. Meanwhile, Jess Cañete of the Commission on Human Rights in Oriental Negros said he is single-handedl

y doing tasks that should be carried out by five people. In a month, he said, he receives an average of two to three walk-in complaints. Investigation for minor cases can take a week while full-scale investigations for more serious complaints can reach up to six months. "It cannot be avoided that I often neglect other cases," he lamented.*JG

back to top