MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has called on local government officials of Metro Manila to get tough on smoke-belching vehicles to bring air pollution to safer levels.

In a statement, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza said air pollution in Metro Manila has stayed above the recommended limits of world health authorities largely because of the increase in the number of motor vehicles.

Based on studies by the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), the average Total Suspended Particulates (TSP) in the National Capital Region (NCR) dropped from 160 micrograms of pollutants per normal cubic meters (ug/Ncm) to 132 ug/Ncm in 2007. But the national ambient air quality standard is 90 ug/Ncm.

Last year’s TSP number for the NCR was at 138 ug/Ncm.

Atienza said air quality in Metro Manila was improving but it was not yet within the recommended health standard.

“These numbers are still beyond the guideline set by the World Health Organization (WHO),” Atienza said.

TSP is a collective term used for very small solid particles coming from emissions of diesel-fed engines, power plants, wood stoves including open burning, and dust from unpaved roads and construction areas.

Atienza stressed that local governments are tasked under the Local Government Code and the Philippine Clean Air Act to improve air quality within their respective jurisdictions.

“The management of our air quality is not the exclusive mandate of the DENR. It is a shared responsibility among concerned national agencies, local government units, as well as the people,” Atienza said.

He said the role of the local governments is “most critical” since it can pass and enforce ordinances against open burning and smoke-belching vehicles.

According to Land Transportation Office statistics, the number of motor vehicles in the country doubled from 2.5 million in 2003 to 5.53 million in 2007. Alcuin Papa