Legarda: Strictly enforce Clean Air Act amid ‘unhealthy’ NCR air

Sen. Loren Legarda —File photo from her office

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Loren Legarda calls on authorities to strictly implement the Clean Air Act after Metro Manila’s air quality reportedly reached “very unhealthy” levels following New Year’s Day celebrations.

“Excessive fireworks celebrations across Metro Manila pose lots of risks, not only the safety of external body parts, but also to the lungs and nose because of the excessive amount of smoke released by burning gunpowder,” Legarda said in a statement on Thursday.

“The Clean Air Act mandates the State to assure that the air we breathe in is safe, and is devoid of impurities that might pollute our respiratory systems,” she added.

According to reports, several Metro Manila cities tallied alarming levels of air pollution as the National Capital Region (NCR or Metro Manila) was enveloped in a thick cloud of smoke on Wednesday morning.

READ: ‘Unhealthy’ air quality recorded in Manila on New Year’s Day

The City of Manila, the seat of power of the whole country, tallied the worst among NCR local government units with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 218, categorized as “very unhealthy,” according to data from IQAir.

Makati had the next highest AQI count with 166, Taguig with 159, and Parañaque with 153, qualifying under the “unhealthy” category.

On the other hand, Pasig (134), and Marikina (118), were registered as “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” as residents in all those areas were advised to stay indoors and wear face masks.

“Over 25 years ago, we mandated the government to regulate carbon emissions, and until now, not much has been done in curtailing the increased pollution during the turn of the calendar,” lamented the four-term senator who authored and co-sponsored the law.

“We should strictly implement the banning of illegal fireworks, and curb pollution by minimizing fireworks displays in specific areas assigned by local government units to help avoid any untoward injuries or damage to properties sustained in fires caused by wayward projectiles.”

Legarda also called to activate air quality monitoring stations, which could provide real-time updates to residents needing them to make informed decisions.

“As online resources are readily available at our disposal, I call on the DENR to establish data centers, especially in Metro Manila, as air quality is just as important as typhoon updates provided by PAGASA,” explained the senator.

It was one of the landmark pieces of legislation concerning the environment, as pollution in the NCR turned for the worst primarily due to smoke from vehicle emissions — leading to periodic checks from testing centers.