That we may breathe clean, healthy air

Themes guide in undertaking two major air quality improvement activities this September. They are "Save Our Sky: There Is A Hole Lot More To Do For Our Children" dubbed by United Nationa Environment Programme, the Protection of the Ozone Layer and "Persistent Organic Pollutants: The Challenge to the Academe" for the educators’ assembly.

On Sept. 16, the country will join the whole world in celebrating the International Day for the Protection of the Ozone Layer. A lecture series on the protection of the ozone layer is being conducted for different schools in Metro Manila, at Department of Environment and Natural Resouces (DENR) compound every Mondays from 1 to 5 in the afternoon. On-the-Spot Painting Contest was held at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Bureau last Sept. 13, 2003, Cash prize were given to top three winners including their schools. Winning entries will be exhibited as the DENR lobby on Sept. 16 to 19. Car stickers with ozone friendly messages will be distributed to commuters to raise public awareness on the protection of the ozone layer.

According to DENR Secretary Elisea G. Gozun, the Philippines, a signatory to the Moutreal Protocol has been actively involved in the global pursuit to protect the ozone layer. DENR through the Environment Management Bureau established the Philippine Ozone Desk (POD) to act as the national coordinator in drawing up policies and devising administrative measures for the implementation of this protocol.

The Montreal Protocol is an agreement signed by 184 countries of the world to phase-out ozone depleting subtance or ODS. These are the substance like cholorofluorocarbons or CFC’s used as cooling agents in refrigerators and air conditioners. When there is leakage, these substances are released in the atmosphere and destroy the ozone layer. The destruction of the ozone layer permits the entry of UV-B radiation from the sun which has serious and damaging effects on all life forms.

Director Julian D. Amador of the Environmental Management Bureau reiterates the commitment of the Philippines through heightened public awareness on what each one can do to protect the ozone layer. An example of which is to inform the public that the aerosol sprays and household appliances they use like refrigerator and air conditioners should be CFC-free or ozone friendly. There is also a need for vigilance on the illegal entry of ODS in the country.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) known as "Dirty Dozen" will be tackled on Sept. 17-19 during the 8th National Educators’ Assembly at Fort Ilocandia Hotel, Laoag City. Senior officials and educators of the country’s leading colleges and universities are going to attend.

Gozun said that the theme "President Organic Pollutants. The Challenge to the Academe" will highlight the need not only to raise the educators’ awareness on the adverse impacts of POPs on public health and the environment, but also to elicit their commitment in communicating POPs to their respective compuses.

Gozun stressed that the colleges and universities, being the center of learning, can be an effective channel for disseminating environmental issues and concerns, particularly, those that would affect public health such as the POPs.

According to her, the Philippine is one of the 91 signatories to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants in Sweden on May 23, 2001. She said "Countries that have signed the Stockholm Convention are required to stop the production and use of POPs, except DDT which the convention has allowed limited agreed use for public health vector control."

Amador identified the 12 persistent organic pollutants as pesticides hexacholorobenzene, mirex, chlordane, DDT, endrin, toxaphene, heptachlor, and dieldrin, industrial chemical polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs); and dioxins and furans.

According to Amador, dioxins and furans are not commercially produced but are by-products resulting from the production of other chemicals. These are likewise created in emissions from the incineration of hospital waste, municipal waste, hazardous waste and car emissions.