Given the proximity of San Pedro City, Laguna to the National Capital Region, as well as the presence of large industrial and residential complexes inside the city, air pollution has become a significant environmental and health concern for the city government.
As part of efforts to address the ongoing issues of air quality in San Pedro City, the city government recently entered into an agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) for the latter’s “Adopt a Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS)” program last Wednesday, November 27.
San Pedro City Mayor Art Mercado and DENR-EMB Calabarzon regional director Robert Angelo Metin led the signing of the memorandum of agreement for the implementation of the program, as well as the inauguration of the Air Quality Analyzer for Particulate Matter 10 (PM10) and met sensors at the rooftop of the San Pedro City Hall.
Also present during the event are representatives from Universal Robina Corporation (URC), one of the city's largest industrial firms, which assisted in the purchase of new air quality monitoring equipment.
Under the MOA, DENR, through its Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), will also provide maintenance for the equipment, as well as sharing the real-time Quality Monitoring Data derived from the CAAQMS program with the San Pedro City LGU.
The San Pedro City LGU, on the other hand, will provide security, internet connection and electrical power supply related to the operation of the CAAQMS as well as share the collected data to individuals and organizations, with permission from the EMB.
Multiple benefits
Marilou Balba, head of the San Pedro City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), said the new air quality analyzer will not only help the city government with its own air pollution mitigation programs but also aid its disaster risk reduction and management programs.
"For instance, in the case na muling pumutok ang Bulkang Taal, malalaman natin agad kung safe ba para sa publiko, lalo na sa mga bata, na lumabas. So connected rin po ito sa ating disaster preparedness," she added.
The DENR will also conduct training sessions for local government officials, particularly the CENRO, later this December, to enable them to craft strategies for effective monitoring of air quality in San Pedro City as well as implementing measures if air quality exceeds acceptable levels.
Meanwhile, the San Pedro CENRO has also fostered its own initiatives to ensure a “healthy” air quality inside the city, such as “tree-growing” programs and “adopt-a-tree” initiatives with the private sector.
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