Interest In Jakarta Residents' Emission Test Still Low, PSI Blames DKI Provincial Government Policy

JAKARTA - Member of Commission D of the DKI Jakarta DPRD, August Hamonangan, explained a number of shortcomings that have made the motor vehicle emission test policy for the people of Jakarta ineffective.

"So far, the emission test policy has minimal socialization, minimal location for the test, and the imposition of sanctions is still low," said August Hamonangan, in a written statement in Jakarta, Saturday, March 5.

August assessed that the ineffectiveness of the policy in attracting public interest in conducting emission tests for their motorized vehicles could make the efforts that have been made so far in vain.

He encouraged the DKI Jakarta Provincial Government to make breakthroughs so that the policy aimed at improving Jakarta's air quality was enthusiastically made by the citizens of vehicle owners.

The politician from the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) explained that one of his breakthroughs was to facilitate access to the location for the motor vehicle emission test, so that more public interest could be drawn to participate in the motor vehicle test.

August gave an example, the implementation of socialization as well as free emission testing should not only be focused on certain points, but carried out in easily accessible places, for example in sub-districts, in residential areas, or maybe in terminals and taxi "pools".

"So it can be used more by residents to be able to take part in emission tests," he said.

Based on his observations, August said, the implementation of the Jakarta motor vehicle emission test to date has not been implemented effectively, even though the implementation of this emission test requires a measurable and massive study, both socialization, implementation of free emission tests, or the determination of systematic administrative sanctions.

"That's why I have conveyed it to the DLH (Environmental Service) long ago so that the emission test policy is more effective," he said.

Based on data from the DKI Jakarta Environment Agency, the compliance level of residents who drive in Jakarta to undergo a motor vehicle emission test is still very low, where until now there are only 599,975 vehicles in DKI Jakarta or 3.33 percent that have undergone emission tests.

In fact, there are 373 official workshops in Jakarta that serve vehicle emission tests with active status.

The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government will also soon hold a motorized vehicle emission test raid in 2022, although the implementation time is not yet known. "This emission test arrangement and compliance activity is planned to be implemented on 24 roads in Jakarta," he said.

The emission test raid is the result of coordination between the Environmental Service (DLH), the DKI Jakarta Transportation Service, and the Metro Jaya Police.

Later every passing vehicle is asked to pull over so that the vehicle can be checked for emission test status by officers in the field.

For vehicles that have checked and passed the emission test, they will be allowed to continue their journey. Meanwhile, vehicles that have not been tested for emissions will be directed to a place to check the status of vehicle emissions, at the location of the raid activity.

Therefore, August asked the LH Department together with the DKI Dishub to effectively coordinate with the Polda Metro Jaya in law enforcement efforts for motorized vehicle owners who have not carried out emission tests.

This is necessary so that the improvement of DKI Jakarta's air quality can be realized as it should be.

"Emission test raids are carried out immediately, the better, the better, but don't just appear to be carrying out the Gubernatorial Regulation (Number 66 of 2020) or carrying out policies from the LH Service," he said.

August emphasized that they must be more serious in giving sanctions and in enforcing the law in the field. "This is necessary to encourage public awareness of doing this emission test," he said.