Govt agency in charge of monitoring air pollution reports 3x level of pollution post New Year compared to last year

Clean air, act

From Rappler by Pia Ranada




EMB of DENR, using PM (particulate matter ) 10 as a gauge (as mandated by Clean Air Act) for the said agency to monitor was up 3x compared to the same period last year.  While this did not look very visible, it is indeed alarming.   WHO monitors the PM 2.5, the much smaller particles, (they can enter the lungs, alveoli and the cardiovascular system causing not only respiratory disease but also cardio vascular diseases)  We have to amend the law so that DENR employs the new and more relevant health related monitoring.  We were fortunate though the sun shone brightly the following day, and there was light breeze, so the pollutants might have been blown over the ocean (where they could precipitate typhoons, and we did have typhoons lately hahaha)

Some solutions vs MM air pollution - AFV (Alternative Fuel Vehicles)

From Rappler by Zak Yuson | March 31, 2013

Congratulations to Lala Rimando and Maria Reza for these kind of articles at Rappler.  They are timely and are socially relevant.

The Green Frog Zero Emission Transport, (GFZET)  headed by Philip Apostol, a former investment banker and son of fmr congressman Sergio Apostol will field hybrid buses that are:

1.  Euro 4 compliant

2.  with tap payment system (no need for conductors)

3.  will be driven by women with fixed salary (no need to run like speed maniacs)

4.  has lowered floors near the curb for easy boarding unboarding

5.  GPS tracker, and fire extinguisher

As hybrid buses, the bus will run both on electricity and diesel, will consume less fuel (save on fossil fuels) and will emit 80% less diesel fumes (which are carcinogenic as per WHO)  Most of the buses running MM are second hand buses from Japan and Korea that have been probably junked or have failed to meet the five year only serviceability limit or failed the emission tests.

The bus will initially have Buendia Kalayaan route.  Apostol hopes the company can add more routes in the future

Other solutions:

l.  The electric jeepneys plying Makat City streets

2.  The proposed e trike project of ADB