LEGAZPI CITY, Nov. 8 (PIA) -- The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) regional office here continues to strengthen environmental protection and raise public awareness on the importance and benefits of vehicle maintenance as the bureau offers free emission testing of government-owned vehicles this month.

Information officer Jacinth R. Tacuyan said that all Fridays this November from 8am to 4pm, EMB V will open its motor pool for government automobiles to avail the said service.

Tacuyan explained that this aims to lessen air pollution from mobile sources and for agencies to serve as role models among public drivers and operators.

She added that belching smoke is harmful to the environment and health.

“Carbon emission or footprints are produced through these vehicles that act as a triggering factor in global warming, climate change, and human illnesses,” she said.

The bureau and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) regional office in Bicol joined forces to conduct regular emission monitoring to enforce responsibility among public and private vehicles.

In 2020, EMB reported no violations were found during surprise inspections in Bicol, given the limited transportation due to COVID-19 pandemic.

EMB’s program dubbed as “Air Shed” allows constant capacity building to help equip skills and abilities in relation to RA 8749 or Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 including free series of webinars or Pollution Attainment and Mitigation to LGUs and industries on how to assess their environmental impact.

EMB also provides 10 percent discount of maintenance services for selected autoshop within the cities of Legazpi and Naga to encourage drivers and operators to maintain their vehicles properly.

Tacuyan calls on the public to be mindful in protecting the environment and be disciplined to follow government’s ecological directives in order to attain a sustainable future. (KAVBernadas/PIA5)