MANILA, June 22 — Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu is urging more partnerships against continuing air pollution nationwide to better help clean up the air and protect public health.
“I believe we can further strengthen collaboration to ensure a safer environment for everyone,” he said in a message read by Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) National Capital Region Dir. Vizminda Osorio on Thursday during the 9th Clean Air Forum in Metro Manila.
Cimatu raised urgency for such collaboration, noting the transport sector is growing further.
He said that sector already accounts for some 88 percent of air pollution load in Metro Manila, the country’s leading urban center.
“Number of registered vehicles continued multiplying over the years, growing by about 22 percent from some six million units in 2010 to around eight million units in 2014,” he said.
Emissions from those units mainly contribute to Metro Manila’s air pollution, he noted.
Such emissions contain substances and particles dangerous to health and the environment, he warned.
WHO data Department of Health presented during the forum showed some 72 percent of outdoor air pollution-related premature deaths were from ischaemic heart disease and stroke.
The data also showed about 14 percent of those deaths were due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or acute lower respiratory infections.
Another 14 percent of the deaths were due to lung cancer, the data further showed.
Cimatu believes multi-sector collaboration and action are essential in addressing air pollution.
“We can’t be complacent in working towards realizing our goal of having clean air,” he reminded the public.
He said EMB and its mother agency Department of Environment and Natural Resources continue monitoring quality of the country’s air to help protect public health.
Air quality monitoring stations EMB installed nationwide earlier are gathering data on air pollutants in areas these cover so the agency can better address dirty air, he noted.
EMB also continues coordinating with agencies concerned and various groups on ending smoke belching in the country and using cleaner fuel.
Motor vehicles must undergo regular maintenance to avoid smoke belching, EMB noted
The battle against air pollution is still far from over but EMB air quality section chief Jean Rosete said the campaign for clean air already scored some gains over the years.
She said data indicate lowering level of pollutive total suspended particulates (TSP) in Metro Manila despite increasing number of motor vehicles in this area.
“I think our pollution control measures are working,” she said at the forum’s side.
Data indicate a 30 percent to 40 percent reduction in Metro Manila’s TSP level between 2004 and 2016, she noted.
“If the number of vehicles won’t increase, TSP level will be even lower,” she said. (Catherine J. Teves/PNA)