Over 1,000 Metro commuter buses fail smoke test

Over 35 percent of public utility buses serving Metro Manila routes failed the anti-smoke belching emission test conducted by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), contributing to air pollution in the metropolis.

Of the 3,982 passenger buses subjected to smoke emission testing from January to June this year, 1,476 buses failed the test.

Loida Alzona, head of the MMDA’s health, public safety and environmental protection department, said that most of the units that failed to make the grade are ordinary or non-air-conditioned buses.

The smoke emission testing is conducted for free at the Bus Dispatch Management System located in Fairview in Quezon City; Oliveros in Parañaque City and Southwest Integrated Provincial Terminal (SWIPT).

“Buses emitting thick and black smoke that fail the test are prevented from hitting the roads until they fix their engines,” said Alzona.

The anti-smoke belching operation is in line with the Republic Act 8749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act.

Alzona said the agency previously conducts roadside emission testing.

However, the lack of impounding space for violators hampers their operation.

“In the previous years, anti-smoke belching enforcers remove license plates of vehicles that fail the test. However, the Land Transportation Office issued a directive that plates can no longer be removed but vehicles be impounded,” said Alzona.

Passengers who continue breathing polluted air are prone to suffer upper respiratory tract infection or respiratory-related problems, like bronchitis and pneumonia, which may lead to pulmonary cancer.