LAW:

 Salient Features of the Philippine Clean Air Act

The State shall pursue a policy of balancing development and environmental protection. To achieve this
end, the framework for sustainable development shall be pursued. As such, it shall be the policy of the
State to:

o Formulate a holistic national program of air pollution that shall be implemented by the
government through proper delegation and effective coordination of function and
activities;
o Encourage cooperation and self-regulation among citizen and industries through the
application of incentives market-based instruments; Focus primarily on pollution
prevention rather than on control and provide for a comprehensive management
program on air pollution;
o Promote public information and education to encourage the participation of an
informed and active public in air quality planning and monitoring;
o Formulate and enforce a system of accountability for short and long term adverse
environmental impact of a project, program or activity. This shall include setting up of a
funding or guarantee mechanism for clean-up and environmental rehabilitation and
compensation for personal damages.

It mandates the various government agencies to do the following in support of the Act:

 Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) – act as overall of the lead agency;
prepare a National Air Quality Status Report which shall be used as a basis in formulating the
Integrated Air Quality Improvement Framework; issue rules and regulations in the
implementation of the Act.
 Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) – in coordination with the DENR in
case of industrial dischargers and the DOTC, in case of motor vehicles, shall, based on
environmental techniques, design, impose on and collect regular emission fees from all said
dischargers as part of the emission permitting system or vehicle registration renewal system, as
the case may be; implement the emission standards for motor vehicles
 Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – with the DENR, other agencies, private sector,
the academe, non-government organizations and people’s organization, shall establish a
National Research Development Program for the prevention and control of air pollution.
 Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), DOST Local Government Units (LGUs) – together with
the DENR shall develop an action plan for the control and management of air pollution from
motor vehicles with the Integrated Air Quality Management Framework.
 DOTC, DTI and DENR – shall establish the procedures for the inspection of motor vehicles and
the testing of their emissions for the purpose of determining the concentration and/or rate of
emission of pollutants discharged by the said sources.
  Department of Energy (DOE) co-chaired with the DENR, in consultation with the Bureau of
Product Standards of DTI, DOST with the fuel and automotive industries, academe and the
consumers – shall set specifications for all types of fuel and fuel-related products, to improve
fuel composition for increased efficiency and reduced emissions.
 Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA) – shall
regularly monitor meteorological factors affecting environmental conditions including ozone
depletion and greenhouse gases.
 Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) – with the DENR shall regulate all projects which
will involve the use of atomic and/or nuclear energy, and will entail release of radioactive
substances into the environment, incident to the establishment or possession of nuclear energy
facilities and radioactive materials, handling, transport , production , storage and use of
radioactive materials.
 Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED) , Department of
Interior and Local Governments (DILG) and the Philippine Information Agency ( PIA) – shall
encourage participation of government agencies and the private sector including NGOs, POs,
academe, environmental groups and other private entities in a multi-sectoral campaign.

SOURCE: http://air.emb.gov.ph/?page_id=39

OR (FOR FURTHER ELABORATIONS)

 https://www.doh.gov.ph/faqs/How-will-air-quality-in-the-country-be-managed
 https://www.doh.gov.ph/faqs/How-will-air-quality-in-the-country-be-managed

Solution:

 Accredited Stack Testers

In order to monitor all sources with potential to emit air pollution, the Bureau accredits Third Party
Source Emission Testing firms (TPSETF) to carry out source emission test and effectively perform
sampling activities in accordance with the provisions of Philippine Clean Air Act (PCAA) and its
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR).

A total of nineteen (22) firms with a total of forty one (41) teams are accredited to carry out the stack
testing activity pursuant to DAO 2013-26. The TPSETF undergoes written, oral and proficiency exam in
order to pass the accreditation. These are done by the Sampling Assessment Team (SAT) which are
selected personnel of AQMS from the central and regional offices. The said team also conducts regular
monitoring/observation of accredited firms to ensure that they continuously follow proper testing
procedure. Annual training on stack emission testing are also carried out in order to provide lectures to
stack testers aside from the regular coordination meeting to discuss updates, issues and concerns.

SOURCE: http://air.emb.gov.ph/?page_id=394
  National Capital Region, Anti – Smoke Belching Operation

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau’s (DENR-
EMB) partner agencies and other Local Government Units of the Bantay Tambutso Project also known as
the Anti-Smoke Belching Operation has conducted roadside apprehension of smoke belching vehicles in
strategic areas in Metro Manila.

The following local government units participated in this project with Metro Manila Development
Authority (MMDA):

 Makati City
 Mandaluyong City
 San Juan City
 Muntinlupa City
 Pasig City
 Quezon City

With the help of at least one apprehension team stationed per office, they were able to check 42,287
vehicles in 2018. The Quezon City ASBU was able to garner the greatest number of vehicles checked
with over 10,054 vehicles. With this, 29,671 vehicles or about 70% of the total vehicles tested did not
meet the opacity standard of the smoke emitted. On a smaller scale, Mandaluyong City had a 92% fail
rate of apprehended vehicles, the highest ratio amongst the LGUs. Consequently, all vehicles which did
not meet the standard will have their owners served with citation tickets and/or license plates
confiscated. For the said documents to be returned to the owners they must pay the penalty and their
vehicles must first meet the prescribed standard opacity.

In terms of number of failed vehicles per identified vehicle type, a total of 24,745 vehicles were checked
in 2018. The month of September 2018 garnered the highest number of vehicles that did not pass the
opacity standard, which totaled to 3696 vehicles or 15% of the year. On the other hand, Sports Utility
Vehicles (SUV) had the highest number of vehicles that exceeded the standard opacity with over 10,133
vehicles or over 41% of the total number.

SOURCE: http://air.emb.gov.ph/?page_id=76

 Bantay Tsimneya

ARTICLES ON PHP AQM PROBLEMS:

 https://www.rappler.com/nation/241304-air-pollution-metro-cebu-normal
 https://www.rappler.com/nation/208192-air-pollution-deaths-3rd-highest-philippines
 https://cleanairasia.org/wp-content/uploads/portal/files/documents/philippines.pdf