'Poor law enforcement, graft worsen air pollution in Metro

MANILA, Philippines - Doctors see poor law enforcement and graft and corruption as the cause of the worsening air pollution in Metro Manila.

Speaking at the Clean Air Summit yesterday, Mike Aragon, Philippine Medical Association (PMA) media affairs chairman, said laws and policies governing air pollution need amendments to make them attuned to the times.

“Enforcement is the problem,” he said.

“Unsustained enforcement of the law coupled with graft is a major stumbling block in eliminating air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR).”

Mardave Martinez, PMA vice president, said air pollution “kills” and it should not be tolerated.

Before death comes, an affected family will first suffer from huge hospital expenses and loss of income due to sickness related to air pollutants, he said.

Aragon said it was agreed upon during the summit that there was need for a “no nonsense crackdown plus a readjustment on policies involving the implementation” of the Clean Air Act.

The PMA encourages the public to engage in outdoor and indoor planting of vegetables and flower plants to significantly improve the quality of air in Metro Manila, he added.

The PMA organized the summit after observing the rising number of consultations concerning non-communicable diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and asthma.

Aragon said the exhaust system of motor vehicles should be strictly inspected when applying for renewal of registration because they are the primary sources of air pollutants in Metro Manila.

“Around 65 to 80 percent of air pollution in Metro Manila comes from the more than two million motor vehicles operating in Metro Manila,” he said.

The summit resulted in the signing of a covenant that would push for cleaner air in Metro Manila and this will be submitted to President Aquino.

Based on the National Air Quality Status Report 2005-2007 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environment Management Bureau, air pollutants emitted by motor vehicles include carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides and volatile organic compounds.

Those exposed to carbon monoxide alone tend to suffer from increased susceptibility to heart disease, impairment of visual perception, work capacity, learning ability and manual dexterity.

The report showed that the total suspended particulates (TSP) from 2003 to 2007 were on a decreasing trend – from 144 to 97 microgram per Normal cubic meter but the concentrations are still above the annual mean for TSP guideline value for one year of 90 microgram per Normal cubic meter.