More air quality monitoring stations put up in metro

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Unioil Petroleum Philippines are installing state-of-the-art air quality monitoring stations (AQMS) in Metro Manila.

A memorandum of agreement was recently signed by the two entities to formalize the partnership, DENR said in a statement last week. The  signing was witnessed by EMB Air Quality Monitoring Division chief Jerry Capulong, and Clean Air Philippines Movement Inc. chair Michael Aragon and president Manuel Galvez.

This marks the DENR’s first partnership with a private company in terms of monitoring air pollution, which has been a major challenge to the agency.

“This is the first time that an industry as big as Unioil is now helping the department in addressing this kind of problem,” said DENR Undersecretary for policy, planning and international affairs Jonas Leones.

At present, all 17 cities and municipality in Metro Manila have at least one AQMS.

November is designated as “Clean Air Month Through National Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Consciousness” pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 1109 of 1997.