ADB releases $100M for Mla air quality improvement

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has released a $100-million loan for the Metro Manila Air Quality Improvement Sector Development Program being implemented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The loan is the last tranche of the $300-million program approved in Dec. 1998 to support reforms and improve air quality by controlling the common sources of air pollution

A $200-million loan component supports policy reforms to raise pollution standards for vehicles and industries, and to strengthen the monitoring and enforcement capability of the institutions responsible for air quality management.

Another $71-million loan is intended for vehicle emissions from traffic, rehabilitating roads, better monitoring and enforcement, and the establishment of a motor vehicle inspection system.

A $25-million loan, meanwhile, will be channeled for an air pollution control facility where industries, commercial establishments, and public transport companies can receive funds to buy and install equipment to reduce emissions.

A recent study showed improvements in blood lead levels among children in Metro Manila compared to 2000 when the unleaded gasoline policy was first implemented. Lead poisoning reduces intelligence quotients, especially in children. At its worst, the level of lead exposure in Metro Manila can cause an average loss of five IQ points in children as well as heart disease and premature death.

Total suspended particulates (TSP) levels in Metro Manila are also declining, though still exceeding guidelines, according to a recent national air quality status report of the DENR.

Ambient sulfur dioxide levels in Metro Manila are also going down and are below guideline values, based on monitoring data from the Ateneo University and two oil-fired power stations. This follows the closure of Sucat, Rockwell, and Manila thermal power plants.

More than 70 percent of Manila’s air pollution can be traced to traffic. According to a World Health Organization study, the pollutants in Metro Manila’s air exceeded safety levels, affecting the health of Metro Manila residents.