Hindi na gumagana ang smoke emission testing machines ng Department of Transportation (DoTr). Ito ang ipinahayag ni Sen. Loren Legarda, pinuno ng Senate finance committee, matapos niyang hilingin kay DoTr Secretary Arthur Tugade na palakasin ang pagmo-monitor ng mga smoke belcher bilang pagtalima sa Clean Air Act (RA 8749).
Sinabi ni Tugade na hindi pa niya alam kung bakit sira lahat ng mga makina at hindi ito pinalitan ng nakaraaang administrasyon.
Tiniyak naman ni Tugade na sa ilalim ng kanyang panunungkulan, kaagad na bibili ang ahensiya ng smoke emission testing machines gamit ang Motor Vehicle User’s Charge (MVUC) Fund.
“I am very concerned about the state of air quality. Smoke-belching vehicles continue to ply our roads even if they should be penalized for polluting the air.
Our people will greatly benefit if we are able to strictly implement the law to address smoke belching. We must have cleaner air so we prevent lung diseases and improve overall health,” paliwanang ni Legarda. (Mario Casayuran)