SMOKE BELCHING

This morning, I rode a public utility jeep on my way to the EDSA Shrine church. As we were traversing the length of Ortigas Avenue Extension, we were running behind an RCGG bus liner, one of those servicing the Taytay-Cainta-Quiapo route. All of a sudden, without any warning, the RRCG bus started belching black smoke from its muffler. The toxic fume was quite thick and the odor it emitted was simply too pungent and acrid.

Those of us on board the jeep could only grimace in disgust and exasperation as we were enveloped by clouds of smoke and dust. Some though were just about ready to pounce on the driver of the bus. How could it not be? I know that like me, most of my fellow passengers were going to hear mass as evidenced by their Sunday's best. Most unfortunatetely, the dark particle stuck to our dresses and the strong odor easily overpowered our cheap cologne and perfume. Needless to state, the thick smoke leaking out of the bus basically ruined our composure.

Since the enactment of the Clean Air Act way back in 2000, if I am not mistaken, the government has made it a policy that vehicles plying our streets shall undergo and pass smoke emission testing before they will be allowed registration. This is the reason why we have borne witness these past few years to the mushrooming of smoke emission testing centers all over the country, which are raking in millions of pesos. In almost every corner, we find establishments advertising themselves to all and sundry as the best accredited smoke emission testing centers around.

But the policy appears to be failing, if we go by the number of vehicles we encounter in the roads day in and day out that spew out black, putrid smoke like the way factory chimneys do. I do not know why the policy appears to be not working fully well. Perhaps, there are loopholes in the law or policy that enable one to easily slip through without any sanction. Or, it maybe that all the safeguards are there except that the people tasked to enforce and implement the law or policy are just not doing their job. It may also be that there are simply unscrupulous and undisciplined owners, who obstinately and stubbornly insist on using their vehicles even if these are not properly taken cared off, or if at all maintained.

We can speculate so on and so forth ad infinitum why smoke belching remains rampant and prevalent in our roads. But I think, more than finger pointing, I submit that what is needed is for us citizens to take a more constructive role in caring for the environment. We should do our small parts in ensuring the cleanliness of our air. We cannot do anything less. Our very survival depends to a large extent on having a healthy supply of clean, unpolluted and breathable air.