"Urban air pollution is set to become the top environmental cause of mortality worldwide by 2050, ahead of dirty water and lack of sanitation" (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2012). This is calculated to be at an estimated 3.6 million people a year by 2050.

 

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (2009) estimated that the 3.1 million premature deaths worldwide every year (which accounts for 3.2% of the global burden of disease) are caused by indoor air pollution from solid fuel use and urban outdoor air pollution. The same report claimed that in 2004, 10.4 million children under five years of age died from the combined effects of acute respiratory infections and diarrheal diseases. In effect, this number of death leads to the overall causes of loss of healthy life years from the 45% in the WHO African Region and 30% in the South-East Asia Region.

 

In the Philippines, Republic Act 8749 or commonly known as Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 prevents, regulates and abatements air pollution. The law recognizes the principles of healthy ecology, local government responsibility with environmental problems, and "polluters must pay," among others.

 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is tasked to prepare the annual National Air Quality Status Report. This will be used as the basis in formulating the Integrated Air Quality Improvement Framework, the official blueprint with which all national motor vehicle inspection and maintenance program must comply with to attain and maintain ambient air quality standards.

 

The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), on the other hand, will enforce compliance with the emission standards for motor vehicles set by the DENR.  RA8749 mandates DOTC to [1] inspect and monitor the emissions of motor vehicles, [2] prohibit or enjoin the use of motor vehicles or a class of motor vehicles in any area or street at specified times, and [3] authorize private emission testing centers duly accredited by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). These gives the DOTC the role to establish the procedures for the inspection of motor vehicles and the testing of their emissions for the purpose of determining the concentration and/or rate of emission of pollutants discharged by said sources.

 

Recently, the DOTC signed Department Order 2012-10 by then Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II. It required the testing of three gasses namely: hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and oxygen. Carbon dioxide was dropped in the order. Thus, no motor vehicle registration (MVR) shall be issued by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) of DOTC unless such motor vehicle passes the emission testing requirement promulgated in accordance with RA8749 as evidenced by a Certificate of Conformity (COC) issued by DENR or authorized Private Emission Testing Centers (PETCs).  Such testing shall be conducted by the DOTC or its authorized inspection centers within sixty (60) days prior to date of registration.

 

However, some PETCs are unscrupulous, according to President Benigno S. Aquino III at the 104th annual convention of the Philippine Medical Association, May 18, 2011. The challenge now is to assess the level of compliance by these PETCs to the guidelines set forth by DOTC.

 

The present study aims to give feedback on the success of the DOTC's  new department order in Cebu City, report feedback from PETCs and vehicle drivers, and help in taking action to prevent unscrupulous entities from registering thereby helping alleviate the worsening air pollution in Cebu City.

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Modernization [PETC 2013 Thesis Introduction]

References

Books/Journals

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development or OECD. (2011). Environmental Outlook to 2050 (para.4). OECD.

World Health Organization. (2009). Global health risks: Mortality and burden of diseases attributable to selected major risks. Geneva: WHO Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data.

Philippines Law and Department Order

Department of Transportation and Communications Department Order 2012-10. Revised Rules and Regulations on the Authorization and Monitoring of Motor Vehicle Private Emission Testing Centers (PETCs), PETC IT Providers and Motor Vehicle Emission Control Technicians and Rules of Procedure Governing Appealed Cases before the DOTC Secretary from Decisions or Resolutions of the LTO Assistant Secretary.

Republic Act No. 8749 (Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999). An act providing for a comprehensive Air Pollution Control Policy and for other purposes.