The Philippines has gained international high marks for its efforts to control air pollution, but the environment department is not resting on its laurels and in fact plans to intensify air quality management programs with the help of its partners.
This was the message of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje during the 2-day Forum on Clean Air 10+2 at the DENR Social Hall in Quezon City. The forum, held June 14-15 as part of the celebration of the Environment Month, was attended by representatives of other government agencies, local government units (LGUs), members of the Partnerships for Clean Air (PCA), businesses, non-government organizations and the academe.
Paje said that, as the country has made a lot of progress in its efforts to clean the air since the enactment of the Philippine Clean Air Act (Republic Act 8749), “It is not to be wondered, then, that the Yale University in 2010 gave us a fairly high grade in the air pollution criterion of its annual Environmental Performance Index (EPI).”
The secretary reported out that the country’s EPI of 71.7 points in the air pollution criterion is higher than the Asia-Pacific regional average of 54.3, outranking 12 other countries in the region while ranking third to Malaysia and Singapore in Southeast Asia. The country tied Australia in 50th place overall, out of 163 countries ranked.
The EPI ranks countries on 25 performance indicators tracked across ten policy categories, one of which is air pollution’s impact on humans, covering both environmental public health and ecosystem vitality. Higher EPI points mean that a country – or region – is closer to achieving its established goals in environmental policy. (The rankings can be viewed on the website: epi.yale.edu.)
Paje cited the different programs that contributed to the favorable ranking, such as the enhancement of anti-smoke belching operations in Metro Manila; the adoption of more stringent emission standards for all types of motor vehicles; and stricter monitoring of private emission testing centers and motor vehicle inspection centers with the use of closed-circuit television or CCTV cameras.
The implications, he said, are that administrative and regulatory efforts of the government can bring down levels of total suspended particulates (TSP), as evidenced by the decrease in the level of Total Suspended Particulate from 166 micrograms per normal cubic meter (μg/ncM) in December 2010 to 121μg/ncM in April 2011.TSPlevels indicate the amount of dust and other pollutants in the air.
He stressed, however, that government still needs “interventions from its partners” to further bringTSPlevels much closer to the annual standard level of 90μg/ncM. Such interventions may be in the form of technology, such as the use of electric tricycles, which is currently being piloted by the DENR, the Department of Energy and the Asian Development Bank in Mandaluyong City. “We will be popularizing the use of electric tricycles not only in Metro Manila but in other major cities. The ultimate aim is for our country’s five million tricycles, of which 2.8 million are in Metro Manila, to become zero-emission vehicles,” he said.
He added that the Aquino administration is also looking into the possibility of converting current diesel-run jeepneys into electric jeepneys. This would keep the cultural identity of the jeepney as uniquely Filipino, while at the same time lessening its air polluting qualities.
Other interventions mentioned by the DENR secretary was the retrofitting of engines to enable the use of alternative fuels such as compressed natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas in public transportation, and the full cooperation of LGUs in the implementation of clean air programs.
In line with this, Paje bared his proposal to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the different Metro Manila Mayors on the adoption of a “no exposed soil policy” to reduce the amount of dust in the air coming from streets and bare, open land especially during the dry season. He suggested that part of the policy’s scheme could be to “outsource” the maintenance of plants in the city’s streets by tapping the services of associations of plant nurseries and seedling banks.
Additionally, Paje disclosed the existence of a P2 billion fund with the Road Board which is allocated for the environment. “Huwag nang ibigay [sa DENR] ang pera,” he said, adding that he is instead willing to endorse proposals from the PCA, theMMDA or other partners for them to be able to access part of the fund for their clean air projects, including urban greening “to keep Metro Manila perpetually green.”
Paje maintained the need for persistent efforts to clean the air through partnerships. “Never did I entertain in my mind the idea that we cannot solve problems for cleaner air without the help of stakeholders,” he said. At the same time, he asked stakeholders to be vigilant in checking the DENR “to keep our people on their toes.”
He also mentioned the country’s accomplishments throughout the 12 years since the implementation of the Clean Air Act. These include the phasing out of lead from gasoline by January 2001, as well as 94 per cent of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs); and the enactment of landmark environmental laws such as the Biofuels Act of 2006, the Renewable Energy Act of 2008, and the Climate Change Act of 2009.
The DENR has also led in the development and implementation of the National Air Quality Improvement Framework that saw the designation of 13 regular airsheds and five geothermal airsheds, as well as the establishment of stations to monitor particulate matter and gaseous pollutants in strategic places in Metro Manila and elsewhere in the country. -30- PAO, DENR
