City ‘proud of doing part’ in drive vs. air pollution

Cebu City officials proudly announced that even before the Department of Interior and Local Government issued a request for all local government units to assist the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in addressing air pollution problems, they have already done their part.

Councilor Nestor Archival, chairman of the City Council committee on environment, said several smoke-belching vehicles had already been apprehended by personnel of the City Traffic Operations Management in line with the city’s campaign against air pollution.

DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno instructed all city and municipal mayors to get involved actively in solving the air pollution problem in the country, especially now that November has been declared as the Philippine Clean Air Month.

The “Linis Hangin Program” is one of the highlights of this year’s celebration of the Philippine Clean Air Month, which is observed every November in accordance with Presidential Proclamation No. 1109 issued in 1997.

The DENR was designated as the lead agency in the celebration of the Clean Air Month and tasked to implement the provisions of Republic Act 8749, otherwise known as the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999.

Puno said mayors and governors should initiate activities in their respective localities to ensure the success of this year’s celebration such as the issuance of a resolution or enactment of an ordinance on air pollution control, and the inclusion of clean air policies in their respective local development plans.

Archival said the City Council has already enacted and even made it stiffer the implementation of the city’s environmental ordinance, particularly against smoke-belching vehicles.

Archival had successfully convinced his colleagues to amend the existing ordinance to compel the owners of the apprehended smoke-belching vehicles in Cebu City to have the violations corrected as one way of helping the government minimize air pollution problem.

“Now is the time for us to work together and take giant steps towards a healthy and pollution-free environment,” the DILG Secretary said.

Puno added that the mayors may also conduct information campaigns on the value of smoke-free communities and encourage community leaders, civic and religious organizations and school/academic institutions to actively support the anti-air pollution drive in their areas.  — Rene Borromeo/MEEV