Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO. 4932

Introduced by
Hon. Mariano U. Piamonte Jr. and Hon. Julieta R. Cortuna
Representatives, A TEACHER Party-list

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Under the Clean Air Act or Republic Act No. 8749, pollution coming
from vehicles are supposed to be minimized. Sadly, you still can see smoke
belching vehicles running around the streets of Metro Manila and elsewhere.
These scenarios can breed some suspicion that authorities are lax in
enforcing the law

With too many laws bound to be implemented, it is easy for those
concerned to say that it is hard for them to implement all laws effectively —
and indeed it is.

This is where the support of ordinary citizens can be tapped to improve
law enforcement, using citizen’s arrest. One area which is nice to begin in
tapping citizen’s arrest is the apprehension of smoke belching vehicles by
ordinary citizen.

In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is hereby being earnestly
sought.



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Republic of the Philippines
HOUSEOF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

Sixteenth Congress
Second Regular Session

HOUSE BILL NO.. 4932

Introduced by
Hon. Mariano U. Piamonte Jr, and Hon. Julieta R. Cortuna
Representatives, A TEACHER Party-list

AN ACT
REWARDING THE CITIZEN’S ARREST OF DRIVERS/OPERATORS OF
SMOKE BELCHING VEHICLES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in
Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. As mandated by Republic Act No. 8749
otherwise known as the Clean Air Act of 1999, the state should ensure that the
atmospheric environment should be clean. To fulfill this obligation, the state should
encourage everyone to do their share in cleaning the environment including the

atmosphere.

SECTION 2. Any individual who shall witness a motor vehicle being operated or
running in any street who shall emit black smoke or its equivalent polluting emission shall
have the authority to apprehend/arrest the driver or operator of such motorized smoke
belching vehicle.

‘The arresting individual may bring the apprehended/arrested operator and vehicle
to a nearby police station to be booked for violation of the Clean Air Act, the vehicle of

which shall be temporarily impounded pending verification of smoke belching violation.


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SECTION 3. Reward. The arresting individual shall be entitled to a ten thousand
pesos (P10,000.00) reward for every legitimate apprehension of smoke belching vehicle.
The legitimacy of such apprehension shall be determined by the Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) who shall cause and order the payment of
the ten thousand peso reward to be handed personally to the apprehending individual or
mailed to his given address

The police officer who received the reported apprehension shall report the same
to the DENR including the appropriate request for determination of degree of smoke
belching on the apprehended vehicle if indeed it is violative of the law.

The reward for the apprehending individual in accordance with this Act shall not

be taxed or considered as part of his taxable income.

SECTION 4. Appropriations. The Department of Environment and Natural
Resources shall include in its Annual Budget the funds necessary for the implementation

of this Act.

SECTION 5. {Implementing Rules and Regulation, The Department of
Environment and Natural Resources shall draft and implement the Implementing Rules

and Regulation (IRR) necessary for the implementation of This Act.
SECTION 6. Repeating Clause. All laws or parts of any law, orders, rules, and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended

accordingly.

SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its

publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,