Metro Manila's deadly air

Metro Manila residents are experiencing the worst effects of pollution ever, with the nearly-feverish heat of the summer exacerbating pulmonary illnesses among Filipinos. Pollution levels are now a thousand times higher than normal, with 80 percent of the bad air quality blamed on emissions from vehicles. The situation has become so alarming that doctors belonging to the Philippine Medical Association are preparing to file a P1-billion class action suit against the DOTC and Secretary Mar Roxas for the alleged failure in enforcing the Clean Air Act, with smoke belching buses, trucks, jeepneys and other vehicles freely traversing the streets despite emission tests being mandatory prior to vehicle registration. 

Health experts say almost 50 percent of medicines being bought by Metro Manila residents are indicated for respiratory infections, cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and other lung-related illnesses – all of which are linked to dangerously high levels of air pollution. Every year, over a billion pesos are lost in terms of health costs and lost productivity due to respiratory illnesses – making the simple act of breathing itself deadly. 

Among the streets pinpointed to have the worst air quality are Taft Avenue and EDSA, and despite government pronouncements to decongest these thoroughfares, traffic continues to be nightmarish, with pedestrians and public commuters alike forced to breathe the noxious fumes from vehicles. While there are a lot of commendable efforts from the private sector to help clean the air, such as the KNoxOut Project featuring several artworks (distributed along EDSA) using paints that are said to combat air pollutants, government has to seriously consider the production of electric vehicles – from cars to jeepneys to tricycles – to combat pollution and lessen our dependence on costly fossil fuels. A number of investors (among them Manny Pangilinan who said he is ready to help the electric vehicle industry and the group of Meralco COO Oscar Reyes and Al Panlilio who are looking at developing fast-charging stations for e-vehicles) are ready to support government initiatives to develop alternative and renewable energy sources.

As a matter of fact, a lot of countries are now focusing their efforts on developing alternative sources of energy not only to reduce the need for imported oil but to protect the environment and the people from the deadly effects of pollution. Europe for instance is looking at the potential of wind power to generate additional energy and more importantly, speed up economic growth and create more jobs in the process. A report by the European Wind Energy Association estimates the impact of wind energy on jobs and the economy, saying more than half a million people are expected to work for the European power industry by 2020.

Very recently, the French government commissioned wind power firms (like Dong Energy) to build and operate offshore wind farms in northern France, perhaps inspired by the success story of Denmark which had very high carbon dioxide emissions in the 1980s due to its dependence on coal-fired power plants. But more than a decade after the installation of wind turbines with an initial capacity of 326 megawatts, the Danish turbine industry has become one of the – if not the – largest in the world, even exporting as much as 90 percent to other countries. This year, Dong Energy is preparing the largest offshore wind farm in Denmark located at Anholt with the project expected for completion by 2013.

In the Philippines, Ilocos Norte has pioneered the use of wind energy with the construction of the Bangui wind farms which have also become a big tourist draw, energizing the local economy with small farmers and entrepreneurs finding a new market for their products. Several investors are planning to construct six additional wind farms in the province, among them the Lopez family’s Energy Development Corporation with a $310 million facility in the town of Burgos. Energy Logics and Italian UPC Group affiliate UPC Renewables are also eyeing wind projects in Pagudpud – which will definitely bring the Ilocos Norte government closer to its dream of becoming the wind capital of the Philippines.

Worst time for Best Buy

It’s certainly not the best of times for American consumer electronics chain Best Buy whose problems continue to mount with the abrupt resignation (some say firing) of its CEO Brian Dunn after the launch of an internal investigation on Dunn’s “personal conduct.” The exit of the executive, who rose from the ranks since he started his career with Best Buy as a salesman in the ’80s, came on the heels of the Minneapolis-based company’s continuing weak sales for “bread-and-butter” items such as TVs and digital cameras despite the closure of its erstwhile biggest rival Circuit City.  

Shares have been reduced to almost 50 percent of their value since 2006, and the company has also taken cost-cutting measures such as the reduction of floor space in many of its stores, renting out space or just letting go of the leased stores. A few weeks ago, Best Buy closed 50 of its US big-box stores and opened 100 small-box stores as part of a huge restructuring program. Analysts however blame the company’s slow response to changing consumer buying habits and the growing competition, saying more stores should be closed ad focus should be made on its mobile business on account of growing sales of tablet computers and smartphones. Most importantly however, Best Buy now has to direct its efforts in finding the best CEO to undertake the uphill battle faced by the company.

Spy tidbit

Critics of US President Barack Obama say he is playing the populist with his proposed “Buffet Rule” that calls for increased taxes for individuals earning over a million by a minimum of 30 percent. The proposal got its name from billionaire Warren Buffet who publicly said that it’s not fair for rich people to pay lower federal taxes compared to middle class citizens. Obama’s rejoinder: “It’s not class warfare; it’s simple math.”

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