Lately, we observed the extraordinary build up of traffic in Manila streets. News reporters note this as a result of the rollback in gasoline prices, such that more people now bring out and use their cars more freely. This means that more vehicles plying the streets produce more pollution in the air we breathe. Even before, Manila has been cited in World Health Organization (WHO) reports as one of the most polluted cities in the world, together with Mexico City, Shanghai, China and New Delhi, India, with vehicular emissions causing 80 percent of the smog and the remaining 20 percent of the smog coming from factories and construction work. The Philippines has about 5 million registered motor vehicles, of which 31 percent or 1.55 million are in Metro Manila. About 60 percent run on diesel, which are found to emit higher levels of more harmful pollutants. There are also more motorcycles running on the streets now with two-stroke engines that Asian Development Bank (ADB) reports found to emit more toxic gases.
We should be very concerned about the worsening air pollution because primarily it causes major health problems, aside from the fact that it worsens greenhouse gas emissions, a major cause of climate change. A survey on Asian air pollution by a market research firm, Synovate, found that 98% of Manila residents are affected by air pollution and that air quality keeps worsening. 82% of the respondents experienced irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, 57% have difficulties in breathing and 27% had skin problems. Hospitals in Metro Manila are always congested despite the administration of more preventive medications and the use of most modern diagnostic methods and facilities. It seems the health of the population is only getting worst. A joint report of the World Bank and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) featured by The Manila Bulletin showed there were nearly 5,000 premature deaths each year in Manila due to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases from exposure to poor air quality. Health problems such as asthma and other lung infections, heart problems, cancers, central nervous system damage, lower IQs and mental problems increasingly affect residents. More and more babies suffer from respiratory problems and even babies as young as two months old suffer from asthma, something unheard of 20 years ago. And the latest reports from the Better Air Quality (BAQ) Initiatives warn that aging populations are also at great risk from pollution.
The latest initiative to solve the pollution problem and improve air quality has been tied up with climate change mitigation. So far, the real solution to this problem is to plant trees. Studies have shown that a single tree can absorb about 0.56 metric tons of carbon dioxide in its lifetime, and around ten trees are needed to capture the emissions of one car. So in Manila alone, we should have 15.5 million trees to ensure that harmful gases do not pollute the air we breathe. This provides advocates and mayors a clear guideline on mapping each of their cities and municipalities, especially the more highly urbanized and populated ones, where they should plant more trees. Again, only the active involvement of the barangay leaders in the grassroots level will ensure the success of this kind of project.
We also need to seriously implement the “balanced and systematic” conversion to alternative fuels of transport vehicles. The widespread use of the electric-powered jeepneys that were introduced in 2005 in Makati City should be promoted. Reducing the smoking of cigarettes will also help reduce air pollution.
As responsible citizens, we should do our share in helping clean the air we breathe. When we clean up the yard or the garage, we may be able to appreciate what an enormous job it is to clean up the environment. We should walk when we can and avoid the use of cars and other devices that release toxic gases in the air. I am sure everyone would agree that it would be nice to look up and behold once more the twinkling of the stars at night in our city.