Gina Lopez’ group launched Bantay Usok many years ago. I was so happy because I thought, thru Bantay Usok, we, ordinary people, could participate in making our environment less polluted by reporting smoke belchers. I was wrong, very wrong.
For a few years, I texted and texted to Bantay Usok the plate numbers, vehicle descriptions, where I saw them, time, date. My husband and children also did the same thing. We also encouraged our friends and relatives to report smoke belchers. And wala lang. Walang nangyari. WA, period.
I always had a ballpen and yellow pad in the car. I was very busy jotting down the plate numbers, etc.
I collated these and mailed to the LTO head every week. Wala lang. Walang nangyari. WA, period.
Ni hoy ni hay. WA.
According to their statistics, that time, more than 400 vehicles were notified, 24 replied, and one was apprehended. Wow.
So I stopped texting Bantay Usok and stopped reporting smoke belchers to LTO.
Tayo Pili-pino,
WA tayo paki- alam kapwa.
WA tayo kunsinsya.
Kahit uBO, CANCER kapwa
sIGE PA buga usok natin,
WA tayo hiya.
Musyalo tayo kapal.
And reckless too.
