Philippine Medical Association presses DOTC on pollution issues

The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) has given the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) a month to act on the issues enumerated in its antiair pollution manifesto—or else.

In its manifesto, the umbrella organization of medical doctors in the country called on the DOTC to close down government and private-run emission testing centers that have been caught issuing certificates of compliance to smoke-belching vehicles.

The PMA urged the agency to close down the erring centers and take legal action against them.

If the DOTC fails to act on the manifesto, which the group will submit to Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas II on Wednesday, the PMA said it would push through with its threat to sue the agency for P1 billion.

Clean Air Act

The PMA stressed that under Republic Act No. 8749, or the Clean Air Act of 1999, the DOTC was tasked to regulate and enforce the law on all vehicles in the country.

“As our action and resolve are anchored on our gathered and documented proofs of negligence and omission, our call on the DOTC takes the form of a notice to sue, which, when ignored, will compel us to seek legal relief against malfeasance and nonfeasance,” read the manifesto.

Last week, PMA officers announced that it was filing a multisectoral class suit against the DOTC and all vehicle owners who failed the smoke emission test for “directly and indirectly” contributing to the capital’s worsening air pollution.

But Dr. Leo Olarte, PMA governor for Manila, on Tuesday explained that it was giving the DOTC a chance to correct its mistakes and make up for them before the case is filed.

Olarte said the PMA will be submitting the manifesto to the DOTC on Wednesday, following which a multisectoral roadside apprehension campaign will be conducted.