DENR pursues clean air program
GLT
By ELLALYN B. DE VERA
December 15, 2011, 3:39pm
http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/344933/denr-pursues-clean-air-program
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) has installed its second fully automatic air quality
monitoring station in Valenzuela City Wednesday for the collection of
real-time pollution data in northern Metro Manila.
Leading the launch at the grounds of the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng
Valenzuela (PLV) at Mayson Road in Malinta, Valenzuela were
Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Director Juan Miguel Cuna,
representing DENR Secretary Ramon Paje; Valenzuela City Administrator
Teresita Capacillo, representing Valenzuela City Mayor Sherwin
Gatchalian; and PLV President Nedeña Torralba.
Paje earlier said the station would be part of the agency’s continuing
efforts to improve air quality especially in Metro Manila, where
vehicles contribute about 80 percent of pollutants.
“As part of our clean air program, the data that this station will
collect will be used as reference for crafting air quality management
programs and policies especially by the local government unit,” he
said.
Cuna noted that the station is also capable of determining weather
conditions that may affect the movement of air pollutants.
The equipment would provide air pollution data in a timely manner, as
well as allow the use of the data in developing attainment and
maintenance plans and for abatement measures, he added.
The Valenzuela station is the second to be launched out of four such
stations purchased this year.
The first was launched last Nov. 15 at the De La Salle University in
Taft Avenue to measure data in south Manila.
The third is along Commonwealth Avenue, which would be launched on
Dec. 20, while the fourth is yet to be installed at the Department of
Public Works and Highways compound along Epifanio de los Santos Ave.
The newly installed equipment is capable of measuring pollutants such
as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide and ozone, as
well as measure meteorological data such as wind speed and direction
in real time, with the data available online.
Aside from the four new stations, the DENR has nine other manual
monitoring stations distributed throughout Metro Manila to measure TSP
levels.
The DENR, through the EMB, has reported that air quality in Metro
Manila has improved as evidenced by the declining level of total
suspended particulates (TSP), which significantly dropped from an
average of 166 micrograms per normal cubic meter (μg/Ncm) at the end
of the second quarter of 2010, to 116μg/Ncm as of the third quarter of
this year.
Meanwhile, the DENR is set to create 10 composite anti-smoke belching
(ASB) teams in Metro Manila to intensify roadside apprehensions along
the metropolis’ main thoroughfares.
The team will be created under the memorandum of agreement (MoA)
signed by the DENR, Department of Transportation and Communications
(DoTC), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG),
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Kapisanan ng mga
Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), Philippine Medical Association (PMA),
and the 17 local government units (LGUs) of Metro Manila.
Each team would be composed of officially designated personnel from
DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), DoTC’s Land
Transportation Office, MMDA, KBP, PMA, and the concerned LGU.
“The added participation of practically all of Metro Manila’s LGUs,
together with the KBP and the PMA, will hopefully show to the
transport sector, which is the leading contributor of air pollutants,
just how serious the government is in going after smoke belchers who
unabashedly ply our roads without apparent concern for public health,”
Paje said.
The DENR is tasked to provide each team with the necessary equipment
such as smoke meters, along with the necessary training on their
operation, calibration and maintenance, and on emission standards and
regulations.
The agency would also act as coordinator among all parties involved,
as well as monitor and evaluate the progress of ASB Office (ASBO).