DENR steps up drive for clean air

This month is Philippine Environment Month and the theme of this year's celebration is Green Cities: Plan for the Planet. For this event, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is intensifying its Linis Hangin: Bantay Tambutso program, with Bantay Tambutso sa Malls in Metro Manila and various regions.

The Linis Hangin program is a multi-sectoral effort that focuses on the three main sources of air pollution in our country Bantay Tambutso (for vehicular sources), Bantay Tsiminea (for industrial sources) and Bantay Sunog Basura (for area sources). DENR Secretary Mike Defensor said "no Filipino should be deprived of their right to breathe clean air and none of us can afford to continue breathing polluted air. All of us must get our acts together in vigilantly improving the quality of air we breathe."

As vehicles comprise the greatest source of air pollution in the country, the DENR Environment Management Bureau (EMB) NCR and partner institutions are gearing up for Bantay Tambutso with the objective of minimizing smoke belchers plying major thoroughfares of Metro Manila. Joining in the effort to abate air pollution are the local governments of Quezon City, Caloocan, Mandaluyong, Makati, and Pasay, Land Transportation Office, Bantay Kalikasan, and private sector partners. The Linis Hangin: Bantay Tambutso program aims to reduce pollutants especially total suspended particulates (TSP) coming from vehicular emissions which can cause serious respiratory ailments.

The Environmental Management Bureau of the DENR, through its regional offices, and in cooperation with the USAID-assisted Energy and Clean Air Project, has also enlisted the support of malls for this Linis Hangin: Bantay Tambutso sa Malls program in selected regions nationwide. Through this campaign, the government is closely working with public utility vehicle operators and drivers, and students and teachers from selected nearby schools to create a heightened awareness for maintaining smoke-free vehicles.

This campaign against air pollution will be implemented in selected areas nationwie namely: SM Megamall in Metro Manila (June 14); Robinsons Starmalls in Pampanga (June 17); SM Dasmariñas, Cavite (June 28); New City Commercial Center in Puerto Prinsesa, Palawan (June 17); SM Baguio (June 6); Ayala Center in Cebu City (June 17); and SM Davao in Davao City (June 17).

Orientation sessions with transport operators and drivers plying the malls mentioned above will be conducted, particularly on the mandates of the Clean Air Act regarding motor vehicles, and preventive maintenance for cleaner air. Free emission testing sessions with diesel-fed vehicles will also be offered during these events.