Emission testing for PUVs / Biking along Session Road

 CITY HALL BEAT

Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Outgoing Mayor Mauricio Domogan last has week issued new guidelines in the conduct of voluntary smoke emission tests for public utility vehicles (PUVs) in the city.

In his Administrative Order No. 56 series of 2019, the mayor said this is in response to the request of the transport sector to relax the application of Ordinance No. Ordinance No. 61 series of 2008, which requires PUVs to pass the smoke emission tests before operating and “allow higher compliance with emission levels but reduce the impact of the ordinance to their revenues.”

The tests are now being conducted daily from Mondays to Sundays from the previous three-day test period by the city’s Roadside Inspection, Testing and Monitoring Team (RITMT).

From the P50, the fee will now be P100 to be paid at the City Treasury Office.

Vehicles subject for testing will only be given two chances and if they still fail on the second test, then they will be required to secure another volunteer testing fee to cover the testing expense.

Drivers, operators or owners of the PUVs will be issued Certification of Voluntary Testing (CVT) upon determination that the PUVs have passed emission levels and will be required to maintain their vehicles.

Holders of CVT will be exempted from roadside testing for two months for both the diesel and gas-fed engines.

However, those observed to still be emitting excessive smoke even within the two-month grace period will not be exempted from roadside tests. 

Those that fail will have their CVT cancelled but no item will be confiscated.

Vehicles issued warning will only be given seven days to repair, tune up or the preventive maintenance and non-compliance will mean automatic apprehension.

The CVT will only be revocable on any of the following circumstances: when another person uses the CVT for another vehicle;  when the motor vehicle is seen to be emitting unusual volume of smoke, is flagged down, and upon road side testing, its emission level has been determined to have exceeded emission standards of the Anti -Smoke Belching Ordinance; and when the CVT issued has been defaced, altered or falsified.

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Mayor Domogan last week also ordered the grant of a 19-hour pass for bicycles to traverse Session Road in observance of the 2nd World Bicycle Day in the city.

In Administrative Order No. 60, the mayor said bicycles can access the city’s main thoroughfare from 5 a.m. of June 2 to 12 a.m. of June 3.

This is to give way to the bicycle fun ride and other activities that will be organized by the different cycling groups and the city government through the City Tourism and Special Events Division of the Office for Administration to mark the special day.

Parking will not be allowed along Session Road on said hours to free the parking spaces and turn them into “bike lanes for-a-day” instead.

The city started marking the event last year with simple activities spearheaded by seven cycling groups as assisted by Councilor Elmer Datuin in line with Resolution No. 116 series of 2018 “Declaring Every 3rd Day of June Every Year as Bicycle Day in the City of Baguio in Support to the International Work Bicycle Day and Incorporating Related Activities Therein.”

“In acknowledgement of the contribution of cycling to the world’s sustainable development goals, the United National has declared the third day of June as International World Bicycle Day and invites all member states and relevant stakeholders to celebrate and promote awareness of the event,” the resolution notes.

“As counterpart, the City has to encourage its citizens to use bicycles as a means of transportation.  Aside from health benefits derived from cycling, it is eco-friendly as it does not emit smoke and it saves money as it does not use fuel.  It will likewise decongest traffic and needs minimal space for parking.”