DENR holds forum on environmental protection

"Environmental protection is everyone’s responsibility" is an adage that leaders of local government units (LGUs) should take into heart. Protection of the environment requires creativity and activity on many fronts–from asking people to limit global environmental threats to safeguarding individuals from the effects of poor air quality.

This is the reason why some cities in Metro Manila such as Makati, Marikina, Pasig and Quezon City have done their part in response to the call for the implementation of the Clean Air Act. Their success stories to protect the environment was shared during the forum-cum-workshop held earlier this month at the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Air Quality Management Training Center, DENR Compound, Visayas Ave., Diliman, Quezon City. The activity is part of the public awareness component of the Metro Manila Air Quality Improvement Sector Development Program.

The forum-cum-workshop, titled "Enhancing LGUs’ Implementation of the Clean Air Act: Sharing of Good Practices," aims to further encourage and motivate other LGUs to strictly implement the Clean Air Act. It also aims to advocate for the LGUs’ involvement and participation in promoting clean air in their respective areas of responsibility.

Republic Act 8749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act was signed into law in 1999. It is a comprehensive policy and program for air quality management in the country. It aims to achieve and maintain healthy air for all Filipinos. The EMB of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is tasked to manage and oversee the implementation of the Act.

The Clean Air Act lays down policies to control the spread of air pollution. It sets standards for vehicle owners and manufacturing concerns to follow and it imposes the appropriate punishments for violators of the law. It also outlines the different programs to be implemented by the government and other sectors in order to manage air quality to healthful levels.

The potential sources of air pollution are classified into three, namely: mobile, stationary, and area sources. Mobile sources refer to vehicles like cars, trucks, vans, buses, jeepneys, tricycles, and motorcycles. Stationary sources refer to industrial firms and the smoke stacks of power plants, hotels and other establishments, while area sources refer to smoking, burning of garbage, and dust from construction, unpaved ground and the like.

In Metro Manila, the mobile sources are considered as the major contributions of air pollution. The LGUs, for this matter, can play a big role and can use their authority circle of influence in advocating for the strict implementation of the Clean Air Act. – Benny Enriquez