BAGUIO CITY – Air quality is better in 2017 than 2016 for 22 locations in the city; as with smoke-belching results in the roadside and voluntary categories, as reported by City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) personnel during the Alay Sa Kalinisan (ASK) meeting last week.
The Roadside Ambient Air Quality Monitoring team led by Engineers Moises Lozano and Sofronio Pascua reported that as sampling was done in 22 areas; with 13 sites, Aurora Hill, Bakakeng Central brgy hall, Bell church, Children’s park in Burnham, Camp John Hay Convergys, CJH Mile Hi, City Social Welfare and Development Office grounds, Diplomat Heritage Park, Igorot Garden, Kabayanihan brgy hall, Middle Quezon Hill brgy hall, Mines View Park, and Veterans Park in the “good” category.
Other areas, Baguio City Police Office, Baguio Sewage Treatment Plant, AIN Camp 7, Happy Homes Old Lucban brgy hall, Malcolm Square, Naguilian road, Pacdal, UP Baguio Campus, Baguio Post Office-upper session road, are in the “fair” level.
In 2016, 12 areas are in the “good” category with 10 in the “fair” level.
“Good” and “fair” categories are considered on the safe level, though persons with respiratory problems are cautioned, as to weather conditions in the area. The results are from air quality measuring machines, operated by the Waste water, Water and Air Ambient Management Division of the CEPMO.
For the Roadside Inspection Testing and Monitoring Team (RITMT) operations in January 2018; of the 677 vehicles tested, 443 or 65% passed; while 35% or 234 failed.
In the voluntary testing of 2,323 vehicles, 87% or 2,013 passed, while 310 or 13% of the vehicles failed. The amount collected for polluters fee and penalties is P446,150.00
The reduced number of failing vehicles has lessened polluters’ fee and penalties collected, but on a positive note, points to a decrease in air pollution. Fees and penalties in 2016 amounted to P7,602,250 while that of 2017 is P5,740,400; a decrease of P1,861,850.00.
More reports shall be collated for air quality in the next months.
By: Julie G. Fianza
