DENR marks Clean Air Month

The Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) leads the celebration of Clean Air Month this November as provided for under Presidential Proclamation 1109 signed on Oct. 22, 1997 by then President Fidel V. Ramos.

This year’s theme — Let’s All Act to Clean the Air — launches an intensified and all-out multisectoral support in promoting awareness and calling to action on issues concerning the quality of air.

Activities include the launching of a biodiesel facility at the DENR, transport and media fora and orientation, meetings and workshops for industries, transport and others sectors, free emission-testing for private and public vehicle will also be conducted.

Intensified awareness-raising activities on Clean Air for DENR staff were earlier undertaken by the Human Resource Management Service in coordination with the Metro Manila Air Quality Improvement Sector Development Program.

In September alone, three batches of Orientation of Clean Air Act and one batch of Proper Vehicle Maintenance Training were conducted. These activities were designed to make the participation conversant on the act and become role models in its implementation.

Aside from this, the DENR has issued Department Administrative Order 2002-23 which provides the guidelines for the management and operationalization of the Air Quality Management Fund (AQMF) which can be utilized for activities that will improve the quality of air throughout the country.

The department also issued memorandum circular 2002-21 designating four cities and six municipalities of the province of Cebu as part of the Metro Cebu airshed.

Earlier this year, the Metro Manila airshed was designated which includes the provinces of Region 3, 4-A and municipalities of the National Capital Region (NCR). Some of the proposed airsheds are Davao, Cagayan de Oro and the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR).