12 LGUs have own air quality monitoring stations

MANILA, Philippines - At least 12 local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila now have their own fully automated air quality monitoring stations (AQMS), while the remaining five will have theirs by next month, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said yesterday.

DENR Secretary Ramon Paje said the AQMS in the cities of San Juan, Valenzuela, Quezon, Navotas, Marikina, Makati, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Caloocan, Malabon, Manila and in the municipality of Pateros are operational.

He added that the AQMS for the cities of Taguig, Mandaluyong and Muntinlupa are expected to be completed and running before the month ends, while those of Pasay and Pasig will be operational by February.

“With the system in place, the issue of cross-border air pollution among neighboring LGUs will now be addressed,” said Paje, noting that the real-time air quality data could provide basis to establish trends on cross-border air pollution within Metro Manila.