Figure 1

According to Philippine Star

News (last updated on
November 25, 2014) , the
countrys local newspaper
producer says that Traffic in
Metro Manila is usually the
heaviest on Fridays and
weekends. Exhaust from idling
vehicles stuck in traffic make it
difficult to breathe, and the
condition is made worse by the
cool weather since the dense
air cannot circulate upward trapping carbon particles that make the ground
level atmosphere thick and heavy with pollutants. Respiratory ailments have
increased by 30 percent since last year, according to records from Metro
Manila hospitals. We received photos taken on Saturday morning and
yesterday at noon, and as one can readily see the pollution has become
worse than ever with a grayish shadow covering the metropolis like an
ominous shroud. The air quality has become so bad that a multi-sector
group calling itself the Coalition of Clean Air Advocates (Philippines),
composed of health professionals, business leaders, the religious sector and
civil society organizations came out with a full page ad in the Sunday edition
of this paper, making an urgent appeal for the president to fully implement
Republic Act 8749, otherwise known as the Clean Air Act of 1999. [Figure 1]
Citing data from the DENR, the group stressed that the air quality in Metro
Manila and other urban centers has reached internationally unacceptable
levels that pose a clear and present danger to human health. Data shows
that 80 percent of air pollution is caused by motor vehicle emissions, yet a
lot of carbon-spewing vehicles still manage to pass the mandatory emission
test prior to registration due to the unfortunate practice of nonappearance that some corrupt DOTC-LTO employees have allowed to
proliferate. Its been 15 years since the passage of the Clean Air Act law yet
to this day, it hasnt really done much to combat pollution or improve air
quality. Corruption in both the public and private sector has been identified
by the Clean Air advocacy group as critical in the implementation of the
Clean Air Act, and among their proposals is to impose stiffer penalties for
those that take part in non-appearance testing plus the automation of
emission testing protocols which might entail changes in DENR
specifications with regard to equipment and test data gathering. The group is
also advocating the development of more mass transport system and the
designation of more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly lanes to lessen he use of
motor vehicles when commuting, and the introduction/commercialization of

clean fuels or other fuels that will lessen carbon and particulate emission.
While Metro Manila is not in The Blacksmith Institute and Green Cross
Switzerlands list of the 10 most polluted cities in 2013, an expert from the
World Health Organization told us we will soon have the dubious honor of
joining that list if the quality of air continues to deteriorate. Clearly, we all
have to do our part in improving the air quality in Metro Manila.