Naga, Mandaue City have most polluted air

Two areas in Cebu Province have been identified by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as having slightly higher levels of Total Suspended Particulates, a sign of air pollution.

DENR-7 regional executive director Celso Loriega Jr. said the southern town of Naga and Mandaue City have been found to have higher than average TSP levels at 106 and 95 micrograms per cubic meter respectively.

The normal TSP level is gauged at 90 micrograms per cubic meter.

Loriega said one of the priority areas of their office is to restore the air quality status in Metro Cebu within standards through their "Linis Hangin" Program within the next five years.

Under the "Linis Hangin" Program, the DENR-7 will promote the use of clean fuel with a blended one-percent coco methyl ester and the designation of attainment and non-attainment areas in Metro Cebu airsheds.

Loriega likewise said their office aims to increase to 95 percent the number of companies compliant to standard emissions by 2010. So far only 91 percent have complied with standard emissions.

Enforcement against smoke belchers and erring factories emitting pollution beyond the acceptable limit will also be done.

Loriega added that the country's air quality is said to fall far short of the appropriate standards for health as the Philippines has the distinction of having the second most polluted air among eight Asian countries, better only than Indonesia.

About 70 percent of air pollution is caused by vehicle emissions, according to Loriega. - Gregg M. Rubio