A video of a passenger bus emitting thick black smoke has raised safety and environmental concerns among motorists.
Automotive publication VISOR on July 30 posted a video submitted by a reader showing an Alabang TSC bus traveling along a major road while emitting thick smoke from its exhaust pipe.
“Zero visibility. Grabe, hindi ba ‘to nape-penalize? Nakakalusot din sa smoke emission test? Kawawa ‘yung mga nasa likod eh. Walang makita. Abala sa daan,” the reader was quoted as saying.
The exact location of the incident was not disclosed, although the video appeared to have been taken on an expressway.
It has garnered 82,000 views, 1,100 reactions and almost 230 comments on Facebook.
“Paano pumasa ‘yan sa emission test kung ganyan ang usok?” an online user wrote.
“Ang daming ganyan, karamihan PUV, mapapangiti ka na lang kasi maiisip mo kung paano nakakalusot,” another commented, referring to public utility vehicles.
“Kung private car ‘yan, huli na, ‘yan sa Pasay,” commented a different Pinoy.
Republic Act No. 8749, also known as the Clean Air Act, requires vehicles to comply with the emission standards set by the government.
“Any vehicle suspected of violation of emission standards through visual signs, such as, but not limited to smoke-belching, shall be subjected to an emission test by a duly authorized emission testing center,” the law states.
Smoke belching refers to the excessive emission of thick, dark smoke from motor vehicles, usually caused by incomplete fuel combustion due to poor engine condition, improper maintenance or the use of substandard fuel.
Last year, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) placed a passenger bus under alarm and summoned its owner after it went viral for emitting thick black smoke.
