DENR: Strictly implement Anti-Smoke Belching law

CEBU, Philippines - In celebration the Clean Air Month this November, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) sees the need for the strict implementation of the Anti-Smoke Belching Ordinance to make the environment cleaner and safer.

Citing three major air pollutant sources, Mar Tabuco, pollution control officer of the Environment Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said these contribute to the formation of greenhouse gases, a culprit in global warming that leads to climate change.

The three major air pollutant sources are grouped as mobile, stationary and area wherein mobile sources refer to vehicles that emit smoke, stationary for establishments that include power and beverage plants, and area which refer to air pollutants coming from residences.

During the 4th Economic Development Council Meeting of the Regional Development Council (RDC) -7 in Cebu City, Tabuco presented the ‘Status of Air Quality in Central Visayas’ which focused on Cebu and showed data that pointed to mobile pollutant sources as the number one source for air pollution.

In 2008, an Emission Inventory was conducted and showed that mobile pollutant sources constituted 64 percent of the air pollution in Central Visayas, 21 percent for stationary sources while air pollution coming from area or residences comprised 15 percent.

Emission Inventories are done every three years.

The Land Transportation Office (LTO-7) conducted roadside spot emission tests as part of efforts to strengthen the implementation of the anti-smoke belching law to promote a cleaner environment.

In 2009, only 12.5 percent of the vehicles inspected passed prompting efforts to increase fines and penalties for vehicle owners whose cars or motorcycles emit combustion.

The DENR EMB-7 report also stated that carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, constituted 50 percent of the air pollutants coming from mobile sources.

Though the report assured that Central Visayas, specificially Cebu, still enjoys safe, breathable air despite increasing air pollutants coming from the three major sources, this has very little potential to affect public health based on the DENR-EMB 7 air quality index. — (FREEMAN)