One of the highlights in the celebration of Clean Air Month was an interactive youth forum held at the University of Sto. Tomas’ Tan Yan Kee Student Center. Dubbed “Hangin Around! Schools Act for Cleaner Air,” the forum was aimed at encouraging schools and youth organizations to be clean air advocates and strengthen their role in air pollution prevention activities.
Participating schools and youth organizations signed a commitment to help protect the environment so people can have clean air. A total of 80 schools, 24 youth organizations and 45 cities and municipalities pledged their support to the campaign.
Also part of the observance of Clean Air Month was an orchestrated campaign to ban the entry of smoke-belching vehicles on the campuses of participating schools.
In a related development, Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno issued a memorandum circular launching the Linis Hangin sa Siyudad/Munisipyo Program. Under the program, local chief executives are encouraged to actively support the campaign against air pollution in their localities. – Benny Enriquez