INQUIRER Global Nation

CEBU CITY, Philippines- Transport groups in Cebu City have two weeks to submit their position papers on a proposed amendment to a city ordinance that regulates vehicle emissions.

Major transport groups like Nagkahiusang Drayber sa Sugbo (Nadsu), Alyansa sa mga Nagkahiusang Drayber Alang sa Reporma (Andar) and the Visayan United Drivers Transport Services Cooperative (Vudtrasco) expressed opposition to the amendment.

“Kami may pirmi maligsan aning ordinasa-ha. Makuha-an nasad ang among panginabuhi-an (We are also always hit this ordinance. Our livelihood is going to be affected again),” said Alex Bordadero of Vudtrasco.

A public hearing was held yesterday to discuss an amendment to City Ordinance No. 2111. Among those who attended were representatives from transport groups and pollution control agencies.

During the meeting, Councilor Nestor Archival said the amendment would impose stricter emissions standards on all vehicles plying city roads.

It will also impose stricter penalties for violations and adjudication procedures for retrieving impounded vehicles, he added.

While transport groups said they recognized the importance of the amendment, they lamented that those who operate diesel-engine vehicles – which composes most public utility jeepney units in Cebu City – would be harder hit because of the nature of diesel fuel to be more polluting than gasoline.

Representatives of transport groups said the amendment may violate equal protection clauses of the Constitution.

Bordadero also said that the amendment was “punitive and not curative.”

Gregory Perez of Nadsu said that the fines stipulated in the amendment were too high.

The amendment states that the ordinance would be updated based on new orders and policies for motor vehicle emissions standards outlined by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The amendment also imposes tighter penalties on unlawful acts, such as violating emission standards tests, refusal to be apprehended for emissions violations and refusal to be subjected to a random test inspection.

Violators will pay a fine of P1,000 for the first offense, P3,000 for the second offense if committed within one year of the first offense, and P5,000 for the third offense if committed within one year of the second offense.

The amendment also penalizes tampering of citation tickets, pollution control devices and emissions test results, among others. The penalty is a fine of P5,000.

Violators would also be required to attend a scheduled seminar within seven days of the violation.