EMB-7: BRT to lessen air pollution

CEBU, Philippines - An official of the Environmental Management Bureau 7 believes that the proposed Bus Rapid Transit System will lessen the air pollution problem in Cebu.

Marc Tabuco, EMB-7 pollution control division chief, said that that his agency is supporting the project.

“This is a good project. We may have a fair level of air pollution, but once BRT starts its operation, this could lessen...,” Tabuco said.

Tabuco said that based on the results generated by their five monitoring stations, the city’s air pollution is within the “fair” level, or between zero to 230 micrograms. The “highest” air pollutants, he said, are the mobile transportation. 

Jim Bradley, communications consultant of the Integrated Transport Planning that takes care of the study on BRT, yesterday assured that the number of PUJs in the city will drop as soon as the BRT becomes operational.

Bradley made the assurance during yesterday’s forum on “Air Quality and Health Benefits” of BRT.

City Health Department chief Dr. Stella Ygonia said that a decrease in the number of air pollutants would be beneficial to the public health. Ygonia said they have high cases of air pollution-related diseases such as pneumonia, respiratory track infection, cardiovascular illnesses, etc. Although these diseases are caused by other factors like diet, they are “triggered” or “worsen” by air pollution, Ygonia said.

According to Ygonia, cardiovascular disease records the highest morbidity.

“We should not be complacent. We have to work out to solve air pollution,” Ygonia added.

Atty. Rafael Yap of the City Traffic Operations Management said the US$200-million BRT project is expected to start construction next year and will be in full operation as scheduled in 2015.    - THE FREEMAN