EDITORIAL - Health or fuel prices?

Anyone who has ever left Metro Manila for some place where the air is cleaner can immediately feel the difference. Allergies disappear, coughing fits subside, eyes stop itching, the skin seems smoother and the body generally feels lighter. Perhaps it’s just the sight of millions of stars sparkling in the night sky – a pleasure the people of Metro Manila and other urban areas lost many years ago.

We all know the reason for this: over the years our bodies have been constantly oppressed by the air we breathe. Metro Manila has become one of the most polluted areas in the world. Each day vehicles and factories spew out toxic fumes into the air, forcing traffic aides to wear surgical masks and making air conditioning a necessity. The smog is often so dense it obscures the skyline of the nation’s premier region.

Filipinos are aware of the problem, but lack of resources, funds and political will have stymied efforts to reduce air pollution. The public applauded when Congress finally passed the Clean Air Act, but like many laws in this country, implementation of the measure has been spotty. Vehicles, particularly buses and trucks, are still out there, emitting noxious fumes so thick they sometimes obscure the road. Some quarters are pushing for a modified prohibition on the use of incinerators. Manufacturers, citing the economic slowdown, are delaying efforts to shift to costlier but environment-friendly technology. And oil companies continue to balk at the cost of shifting to cleaner fuels.

Now Malacañang is said to be considering the suspension of the Clean Air Act come 2003. The main reason cited is that the looming war in Iraq could make the shift to cleaner fuels so much more expensive for the oil companies than originally projected. The additional costs are expected to be passed on to consumers, which means higher fuel prices, which in turn could trigger inflation.

No one wants higher fuel prices, but how long can we put off cleaning up the air? A polluted environment also means rising health care costs. The plan to suspend the Clean Air Act is based on projections of the impact of any US-led attack on Iraq. How accurate are these projections? There are suspicions that the planned suspension is fueled mainly by fears of the political fallout from more oil price increases. Before suspending the Clean Air Act, the government must weigh the costs of putting off yet again efforts to create a healthier environment.