Not just a force to reckon with

A thick haze enveloping Metro Manila was visible while our plane was circling the sky prior to touchdown at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last Wednesday. This nagging question again cropped up: Will the air pollution get worse before it gets better? How many more preventable deaths and ailments would occur before we awaken and do something, anything, to clean our air?

It is heart-breaking that, despite laws on and innumerable campaigns for air quality management, stakeholders still have to put their acts together and look seriously at pollution and its dire implications.

Sustainability of funder-driven campaigns such as the multi-million-peso Energy and Clean Air Project (ECAP) launched by the United States Agency for International Development years ago remain a daunting challenge. When the project is over, everything goes down with it, not excepting the Metro Cebu Air Shed Board. The board callously hibernated until citizens called the attention of Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas, pertinent local chief executives and other agencies, through a notice to sue. Thankfully, the Regional Development Council in Central Visayas through National Economic Development Authority Director Efren Carreon positively responded, and the board was reconvened.

Many, for personal interests, still choose to ignore the undeniable impact of air pollution and the climate-causing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane, on our health and survival. Despite shared mandates of protecting the people and the planet, local government units and national agencies like the DENR and the Department of Transportation and Communications, still have to show a greater degree of sensibility in their grave responsibilities to promote ecological health, upon which life depends.

With their billion-peso budgets, has any highly urbanized city in Cebu invested in even a single air quality-monitoring device to enable us to know the state of our air and prevent unnecessary exposure to polluted sites, known as non-attainment areas, under the Clean Air Act?

Until now, we await the data from the Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board on the public utilities and private vehicles roaming Metro Cebu. It was directed by the DOTC last month to do so.

Motor vehicles are major sources of air pollution, together with stationary emissions from power plants and manufacturing companies. Studies have shown that “Philippine air quality has progressively deteriorated in the last two decades” and “shows the pressing need to find a solution to the increasing levels of pollution, especially in the transport sector.” (https://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/regions/7301-study-manila-is-the-most-polluted-city-in-phl)

The only way to stop this state of lethargy and uncaring attitude is for people to claim their right to participate in governance. We have to own up to our role in meekly allowing in the past government and business sector making decisions that impact us and our way of life, without our engagement.

Grumbling is simply not enough. Action is the way to go.

As crisis begets opportunities, more and more life-sustaining initiatives from the people, in partnership with government and citizens, are happily happening.

Aside from the strong and steadfast opposition reflective of the growing empowerment of the people, led by the Movement for Livable Cebu, to the ill-conceived and “proponent driven” flyover projects in heritage-rich Gorordo and MJ Cuenco avenues, the Road Rev road sharing project which was launched in Cebu City last year is on a roll.

Conceptualized by our own indefatigable eco-warrior Tony Oposa on the principle that “those who have less in life should have more in roads,” Road Rev is making its hugely stirring inroads in Manila and Baguio City.

On Jan. 22, the traffic congested Ongpin Street became car-and-toxic-emission-free. Dubbed the First Pedestrian Day, it brought together people from all sectors led by Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.

It was a historic event. Belle Lim, the indefatigable co-convener whom I am looking forward to meet soon, pointed out that it was the first time Ongpin Street was closed to vehicles. The influx of people was overwhelming.

The sense of community that Cebuanos also felt in the June 12 Road Rev launch in Cebu City is apparent from the pictures shared by Tony with our network . Business blossomed. The unqualified success led Mayor Lim to declare Sundays, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. as “pedestrian day” in Ongpin.

On Jan. 27, it was the turn of Baguio City to open part of the Session Road and made it “people-friendly” from 3-12 pm. Children’s happy faces and the serene look of the pedestrians and their willingness to open their minds and hearts by listening aptly in the interactive session were rewards in themselves for the tireless efforts of the organizers. Earlier, at least 500 residents participated in the lively Public Forum “Recreating People Friendly Session Road” held at the University of Cordilleras. It was the first time that people let off steam about the transportation and other issues faced by the city.

Congratulations to Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan who issued the order authorizing the event that will hopefully “popularize the concept of public space and road sharing.” (www.baguio.gov.ph)

Kudos also to co-Reimagineers Marian Roces and Garth Noel Tolentino of the People Power Institute for connecting Tony Oposa with the dynamic Helen Tibaldo of the Public Information Agency and the local stakeholders, after reading PDI correspondent Desiree Caluza’s article on Session Road (https://business.inquirer.net/31175/catholic-church-overhauls-baguio-landmark). In the article, Fr. Lorenzo Abela Jr., Porta Vaga chief operating officer, aired his dream for the historic Session Road to be exclusively for the use of pedestrians. It was a dream come true for him and residents like the country’s first City Architect Jodie Alabanza.

Tony, Tara Rama, our dynamic coordinator of Road Rev Cebu and I thank them and new friends like JP Alipio, Raffy Chan, Gideon Omero and so many others who inspired us no end through their love of their city and its rich culture but oh-so-so-threatened environment. The sentiment against SM’s plan to cut 182 pine trees was most vivid in the messages written by the citizens on the freedom wall at Session Road, in addition to the online petitions and mass actions.

The empowering winds of change are in the air. Tony Oposa best summed up the hope in our hearts with his words: “They say that anything worth doing cannot be done in one lifetime. But who knows, at the rate this is going, looks like we’ll see a few changes sooner than later.”

It is time for public authorities to acknowledge that engaged citizens are not just a force to reckon with. They are in fact THE force to reckon with, in changing minds and hearts.

Mabuhay!