Air pollution in NCR due to

vehicular emissions: DENR

By Marita Moaje

August 19, 2024, 5:19 pm

SMOG IN THE CITY. High-rise buildings in Quezon City are barely visible due to smog that
blanketed most parts of Metro Manila on Monday (Aug. 19, 2024). The Department of
Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau said the foggy
atmosphere is mainly due to air pollution from vehicular emissions. (PNA photo by Joan
Bondoc)

MANILA – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental

poManagement Bureau (DENR-EMB) said the foggy atmosphere in the National Capital
Region (NCR) on Monday was mainly due to air pollution from vehicular emissions and not
vog coming from Taal Volcano.

“The current air pollution levels may be primarily attributed to emissions from heavy
vehicular traffic, especially during rush hour, and the effect of thermal inversion which traps
air pollutants in the surface level,” the DENR's Haze Watch Air Quality Technical Bulletin
read.

The surface wind direction is blowing from the southeast at about 8 a.m., as observed from
the nearest station of PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical
Services Administration) located approximately 33.3 kilometers from Taal Volcano.

This means that the wind direction is away from the NCR, it added.

Meanwhile, air quality in some areas in Metro Manila was recorded at unhealthy levels.

The DENR-EMB air monitoring station in Makati City recorded an air quality index (AQI) of
“very unhealthy” for Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5, while stations in Caloocan, Pateros, and
Parañaque City recorded an AQI of “unhealthy for sensitive groups” for PM2.5.

Stations in Pateros and Taguig City recorded AQI of “fair” (55-154) for PM10, while stations
in Caloocan, San Juan, Makati, and Parañaque City recorded AQI of “good” for PM10 (range
from 0–54).

Meanwhile, an AQI of "very unhealthy" was recorded for ground-level upwind PM2.5
monitoring stations located in SM Skyranch, Tagaytay, Cavite; and BSU Mabini Campus Rizal
Ave, Extension, Batangas -- all near Taal Volcano.

However, air quality varies in time and place and can change anytime depending on
pollution sources and meteorological factors.

Meanwhile, vog was recorded in areas near the Taal Volcano which is under Alert Level 1.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) recorded 3,355

tonnes/day of sulfur dioxide emissions within the area and a plume height of 2,400 meters.
(PNA)

‘7 million people die annually due to air pollution’

Bella Cariaso - The Philippine Star

February 9, 2024 | 12:00am

Bustling city landscape of Metro Manila is photographed on January 30, 2024.

Ernie Penaredondo / The Philippine STAR

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga , Philippines — At least 100 of every 100,000 Filipinos die annually
because of air pollution, an expert from the Manila Observatory revealed.

“Roughly seven million people die each year, that’s globally, due to air pollution, a third of
that figure is actually in Asia. In the Philippines, that’s 100 people per 100,000 (dying) each
year due to air pollution,” said Maria Obiminda Cambaliza, Manila Observatory air quality
dynamics laboratory research scientist, as she cited data from the World Health
Organization (WHO) during a press conference here last week.

Cambaliza added that 60 percent of the country’s air pollution was caused by vehicles.

“Based on our study, the major contributor to the particulate matter 2.5 was due to the
transportation sector, due to traffic. The rest are other sources, like construction, natural
causes, like sea salt, dust,” she also said.

As an example, Cambaliza cited the incident on Sept. 22, 2023 when smog covered the
National Capital Region due to air pollution.

“We did a quick analysis and we found out… it was not due to the vog but due to the
pollution in Metro Manila. This means that the air pollution that we produce causes haze.
The winds were very low so whatever was emitted by our sources, like the transportation
sector, stayed in our atmosphere because we lacked dispersion from the winds. The
emission did not flow, what was emitted stayed,” she explained.
According to Cambaliza, the country’s annual air quality was pegged at 20 micrograms per
normal cubic meter, or four times the annual standard value set by the WHO.

A memorandum of understanding – signed between Environment Secretary Maria Antonia

Yulo-Loyzaga and National Aeronautics and Space Administration tropospheric composition
program scientist Barry Lefer – allows experts from the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources to join NASA scientists on board scientific research flights from Feb. 11 to
15.

The program aims to study the atmosphere in Metro Manila and nearby regions, including
Regions 3 and 4-A and the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Cebu and Palawan.

“It (collaboration with NASA) is important. NASA’s satellites can see what is from space, the
DENR has a ground instrument that can measure air quality. What we want to do in this
mission is understand all that is going on as we exit from space, in this particular in between
layers. We need to understand in order to have policies and regulations that are evidence-
based, regarding public health, regarding industrial compliance,” Loyzaga said.

“It will give us a clear picture of what is being produced and emitted in our atmosphere and
of course from the ground,” she added.

According to Loyzaga, the research on air quality has been going on for years.

“We need to actually have measurements which cover the history of air quality so that we
can understand what is actually evolving in terms of air quality and how it impacts the
population and the different sectors. This is just one step. We will be able to contribute to
the discussion on air quality, air pollution and climate change especially for COP29 so with
the help of our partners in NASA, we would like to understand the interaction between
pollutants, greenhouse gases and climate change as well,” Loyzaga said.

For his part, Lefer said that NASA could provide the Philippines with direct measurements,
particularly on how much pollution are coming from different sources.

11 million families lack access to clean water

Helen Flores - The Philippine Star

March 21, 2023 | 12:00am

11 million families lack access to clean water

STAR / Michael Varcas

MANILA, Philippines — About 11 million Filipino families still have no access to clean water,
according to the National Water Resources Board (NWRB).

Speaking at the Laging Handa public briefing yesterday, NWRB executive director Sevillo
David noted these families get water from “unsafe” sources such as deep wells, springs,
rivers, lakes and rainwater.

David’s statement comes as the Philippines and other countries mark World Water Day on
March 22.

Aside from water, David said sanitation also remains a problem in the country as many
families still practice open defecation, risking water contamination and diseases.

According to a recent Philippine Statistics Authority report, a total of 53,066 Filipinos died
between 2010 and 2019 due to water-borne diseases such as typhoid and paratyphoid fever,
bloody diarrhea, cholera, viral hepatitis and leptospirosis.

Meanwhile, David said so far there is enough water supply in the country, particularly in
Metro Manila.“We want to inform the public that we have enough (water) supply. But
PAGASA says that there is a looming El Niño,” the official said.

El Niño brings drier than normal conditions.

David said there might be a decrease in rain not only in Metro Manila but in different parts
of the country due to El Niño.

“We need to prepare for it as it might affect our water supply, especially our farms,” David
said.

President Marcos earlier approved the creation of a water resource management office
(WRMO) under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to ensure sufficient
water supply in the country.

The President said the WRMO’s first action should be reducing the country’s reliance on
groundwater and deep wells, as well as managing surface water supply.

The Philippines ranks among the world’s rapidly urbanizing countries, with over 47 percent
of its population living in cities in 2021, requiring large water projects, including bulk water
supply and sanitation infrastructure.

2. We in the family discuss about air and water pollution and we should start of course in our
own house. I'm glad that we don't have a smoker in the family so we are not exposed to any
non communicable diseases but outside we still use facemask for our protection. We also
clean our house inside and outside. We also avoid leaving junk outside such as bottles that
can house mosquitoes since it's rainy this day and to prevent dengue fever. We also teach
children in our own to drink only clean water and we also make sure that when in school

they bring their own water bottle.

Task 2
 Use properly the waste bin.
Always segregate the trash. Separate the biodegradable and non biodegradable.
Don't take outside your trash if it's not the schedule of garbage collection in your area
or community.
The local barangay should enforce strict implementation regarding solid waste
management.
Barangay should also provide public awareness and community involvement such as
education campaign and clean up drive.

Task 3.
Turning off the lights and any electronics when not in use.
My mother is making curtain and accessories using magazine, newspaper and plastic
from junk foods or coffee sachet.
We properly disposed our waste.
Conserve water.

BAGUISI, MELODY M.
BPAFAOUMN 1-2