The Philippines

Clean Air Act of

1999
 Clean Air Act
• Republic Act No. achieve and
8749, otherwise maintain healthy air
known as the for all Filipinos.
Philippine Clean Air
Act, is a
comprehensive air
quality management
policy and program
which aims to
 Principles

• The State shall protect and advance the right of

the people to a balanced and healthful ecology
in accord with the rhythm and harmony of
nature.
• The State shall promote and protect the global
environment to attain sustainable development
while recognizing the primary responsibility of
local government units to deal with
environmental problems.
• The State recognizes that the responsibility
of cleaning the habitat and environment is
primarily area-based.
• The State also recognizes the principle that
"polluters must pay".
• Finally, the State recognizes that a clean and
healthy environment is for the good of all
and should, therefore, be the concern of all.
What are the prohibited acts under
the Clean Air Act of the
Philippines?
• What are the prohibited acts under the Clean Air Act
of the Philippines?
• Among others, the Act prohibits the following:
• Unauthorized transport or dumping into waters of
sewage sludge or solid waste. Operate facilities that
discharge or allow to seep, willfully or through grave
negligence, prohibited chemicals, substances, or
pollutantslisted under R.A. No. 6969, into water
bodies.
 The initial list and values of the
hazardous air pollutants shall be as
follows:
• (a) For National Ambient Air Quality Guideline for
Criteria Pollutants:

• Sulfur Dioxide
• Nitrogen Dioxide
• Photochemical Oxidants
• Carbon Monoxide
• Lead
(b) For National Ambient Air Quality Standards for
Source Specific Air Pollutants from Industrial
Sources/Operations:
1. Ammonia 7. Lead
2. Carbon Disulfide 8. Nitrogen Dioxide
3. Chlorine and Chlorie 9. Phenol
Compounds expressed as Cl2 10. Sulfur Dioxide
4. Formaldehyde 11. Suspended Particulate
5. Hydrogen Chloride Matter-TSP
6. Hydrogen Sulfide
 How will good air quality be
ensured?

• The National Ambient Air Quality Guideline Values,

in order to protect health, safety, and the general
welfare, have been set in law. These are to be
routinely reviewed by the DENR, through the EMB,
in coordination with other concerned agencies and
sectors.
 What about fuels?
• Clean fuels are needed to achieve clean air. The CAA thus
provides for:
• The complete phase out of leaded gasoline before the end of
the year 2000;
• The lowering of the sulfur content of industrial and
automotive diesel, respectively, from 0.5% to 0.3% and from
0.2% to 0.05%.
• The lowering of aromatics in unleaded gasoline from 45%
maximum to 35% maximum; and the lowering of benzene in
unleaded gasoline from 4% maximum to 2% maximum.
• Further improvement on the fuel quality, excluding cleaner
alternative fuels, will be spearheaded by the Department of
Energy.
 What about other sources of
air pollution?
• Smoking is banned beginning May 25, 2001, in
any of the following locations:
• Inside a public building;
• Enclosed public places including public
vehicles and other means of transport;
• In any enclosed area outside of one’s private
residence, private place of work; or
• Penalty to violation of this provision is six
months and one day to one year imprisonment,
or a fine of ten thousand pesos (P10,000).
 What can you do to help clean
the air?
• For vehicle proper driving habits.
owners/motorist: • Remove unnecessary things
• Maintain your vehicle by from the trunk. Don’t
changing oil regularly (every overload and travel only at
5,000 kilometers). speed required by traffic
• Keep the engine well-tuned regulations and road
following the owner’s conditions.
manual.
• Keep tires properly
inflated.
• Plan trips and observe
• For commuters:
• Try talking to the
jeep/bus/tricycle driver
about the high health risks of energy-efficient.
poor vehicle maintenance
and improper driving
practices.
• Patronize mass railway
transit (i.e., MRT, LRT)
• For office workers:
• Reduce use of air
conditioning and ensure that
rooms are sealed.
• Make sure that lights are
• Use company vehicles wisely
and make sure that they are
well-maintained.
• Use natural lighting by
opening window curtains at
daytime.
• At home:
• Use low watt bulbs or energy-saving lights.
• Limit the use of air conditioning units and keep the temperature a few
degrees higher.
• Don’t burn garbage.
• Avoid using aerosols.
• Properly dispose of refrigerant, refrigeration equipment, and used
coolant.
• For everyone:
• Talk to people on what they can do about air pollution.
• Report smoke-belchers to LTO, MMDA, and/or the appropriate local
government units.
• Walk or ride your bike to places.
• Take the bus or mass rail transit whenever you can.
• Work with residential associations to stop burning of garbage.
• Plant trees.
• Spread the word about the ban on smoking in public places.
 What will be done to smoke
belching vehicles on the road?
• Smoke belching vehicles • 1st offense P1,000
on the road shall be • 2nd offense P3,000
subjected to emission • 3rd offense P5,000
testing by properly - plus a seminar on
equipped enforcement pollution management
teams from the
DOTC/LTO or its duly
deputized agents.
Violators will be subject
to the following
fines/penalties: