RP now has 28 environmental laboratories

The country now has a total of 28 environmental laboratories nationwide after the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recently accredited 10 more laboratories as part of efforts to ensure the improvement and preservation of the environment.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Elisea Gozun has given out certificates of recognition to the following as environmental laboratories:

• University of San Carlos Water Laboratory in Cebu City,

• Science Resource Center of the University of the Immaculate Conception in Davao City,

• Research and Analytical Services Laboratory of the Natural Sciences Research Institute in Quezon City,

• Intertek Testing Services Philippines Inc. Labtest in Makati City,

• Central Wastewater Laboratory of Universal Robina Corp. in Pasig City,

• Ostrea Mineral Laboratories in Biñan, Laguna,

• Chemical Testing Laboratory of the Department of Science and Technology in Cagayan de Oro City,

• Optimal Laboratories in Lipa City, Batangas,

• Regional Standards and Testing Laboratory of the DOST in Los Baños, Laguna, and

• SGS Philippines Laboratory in Makati City.

"These environmental laboratories are strategic partners of the government in data generation for environmental planning, monitoring and decision-making," Gozun said.

Environmental laboratories, as defined by the DENR, are those authorized to generate environmental data for environmental impact assessment, environmental monitoring and research activities to support the formulation and implementation of government policies, criteria and rules and regulations on the protection of the environment.

Environmental analysis

Julian Amador, director of the Environmental Management Bureau, said the DENR began recognizing environmental laboratories in 1998 with the issuance of DENR Administrative Order No. 63.

He said this was instituted to encourage the public sector to take part in environmental analysis and thus complement DENR’s analytical facilities for environmental characterization and monitoring, environmental impact assessment, pollution control and management, and research and development.

Amador said the recognition scheme covers 27 parameters for water and wastewater, 19 for ambient air and stationary source emission, and six groups of parameters for sediments and biota.

Twenty-four of the recognized environmental laboratories can analyze dissolved oxygen; while the others can analyze biochemical oxygen demand (22), chloride (18), fecal coliform (17) and mercury (12).

All of them are capable of analyzing pH or acidity/basicity level of water and wastewater. However, only one laboratory can analyze polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

For ambient air quality, five private laboratories are capable of monitoring sulfur dioxide; four for nitrogen dioxide; three for particulate matter 10 microns or less; three for total suspended particulates; and one each for lead and hydrogen sulfide.

On the other hand, three laboratories are capable of monitoring sulfur dioxide; two for particulates; and one each for arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury for stationary source emissions.

Gozun said expectations on environmental data have radically changed over the years.

"We (no longer) simply consider the data per se but we look for other aspects related to the way the data have been generated," she said.