San Juan beware Anti-idling on measure in okayed

The idling of all gasoline- or diesel- powered motor vehicles for more than three minutes while the vehicle is parked, including for the purpose of operating its air conditioning equipment, is now prohibited in San Juan City.

This after the city council unanimously approved on Third and Final Reading last June 11 an ordinance entitled “An Ordinance Prohibiting the Idling of a Motor Vehicle Engine and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof.”

Councilor Angelo Agcaoili, the city council’s majority floor leader and author of the ordinance, said a motor vehicle’s exhaust is one of the largest sources of air pollution in the city.

He added the motor vehicle’s engine idling or keeping the engine running while the motor vehicle is parked also greatly affects the health and well-being of people.

Agcaoili shared he himself noticed a lot of drivers keep their cars’ engines on while parked in schools and malls. The same thing is true in malls.

Hence, Agcaoili, a lawyer, said there is a need to enact a legislation to ensure protection of the health of our students and our citizens in general, our environment, as well as to avoid fuel wastage.