Councilor worries about air quality

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Councilor Bernard Joseph T. Odilao, who is the chairman of the committee on environment, has asked Mayor Socrates Fernandez to immediately implement the memorandum of agreement as regards the allocation of an adequate area for the installation of an ambient air quality monitoring station.

Last April 24, the city entered into an agreement with the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Region VII.

Republic Act 8749, otherwise known as the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999, requires the monitoring of suspended air particles.

Odilao said the establishment of the station will educate motorists on the proper maintenance of their motorized vehicles.

“The monitoring of such will benchmark the quality of air our constituents are breathing in. The monitoring of the suspended air particles will help us establish the health standards and risks of respiratory diseases,” Odilao said.

Under the MOA, the EMB Region 7 is tasked to install, conduct and train the personnel on the ambient air quality monitoring station.

“It is imperative for the Office of the Mayor to immediately implement the agreement for it is highly beneficial to the city of Talisay and its constituents and motorists plying the SRP or Tabunok route,” he said.  (FREEMAN)