Group launches clean air drive in Cebu

Local

THE newly launched Cebu Clean Air Network (Cebu CAN) is calling on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Health (DOH) to bring Philippine air quality standards in line with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.

Launched at the University of the Philippines Cebu on Friday, Nov. 13, the coalition said authorities must establish localized action plans with clear targets to address pollution from coal-fired power plants and vehicle emissions. It also called for wider access to real-time air quality data.

Cebu CAN identified nearly 900 megawatts of coal-fired power capacity in Toledo and Naga, along with heavy traffic emissions in urban areas across Cebu Province, as major sources of air pollution.

The coalition said the country's annual guideline for fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, remains five times higher than the WHO recommendation.

The national guideline for 24-hour averages is also more than twice the WHO level.

Although the Philippines passed the Clean Air Act in 1999, the network said gaps remain in local implementation.

The government is revising its 2000 National Air Quality Control Action Plan, but Cebu still lacks a local Clean Air Action Plan.

The province has also experienced several episodes of poor air quality this year.

Several times, the DENR Environmental Management Bureau Region Central Visayas monitoring station in Talisay recorded a "very unhealthy" air quality index attributed to local vehicle and industrial emissions.

Mt. Kanlaon volcanic activity affected air quality in Metro Cebu in July, while haze from forest and peatland fires in Indonesia raised pollution levels again in September.

Cebu CAN said the province's two monitoring stations, located in Talisay and Toledo, cannot provide sufficient localized and real-time information for a population of more than five million.

Limited response protocols have also contributed to public confusion during pollution episodes.

"Clean air isn't just about hospital visits. It's about building healthier communities where our families can thrive," said Ara Alejo, clean air campaigner at 350 Pilipinas.

"Our national limits allow five times more PM2.5 than WHO recommends. Haze comes and goes and only exacerbates the air that is already being polluted by our own sources. As ASEAN chair, the Philippines should lead by example," she added.

Cebuano pulmonologist Dr. Peter Blanco of the Health Alliance for Climate and Clean Air Philippines said fine particles can penetrate the body's defenses, reach deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream.

He warned that exposure can trigger asthma attacks, worsen chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and lung cancer.

Children, older people and those with existing heart or lung conditions are particularly vulnerable.

"Bringing our standards closer to WHO levels is one of the most effective things we can do to protect Cebuanos' health," Blanco said.

The coalition also raised concerns about the financial burden of fossil fuel dependence and pollution.

More than 80 percent of the coal used in the country is imported, exposing electricity costs to fluctuations in global fuel prices.

A 2021 study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air and the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities estimated that air pollution costs the Philippines P4.5 trillion annually in economic losses.

"Fossil fuels tax Cebuanos twice: first on power bills when imported coal prices surge, and again on medical bills when pollution makes people sick," said Estela Vasquez, Visayas coordinator of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice.

"Sunlight and wind don't get more expensive during global crises. Expanding local renewables, as well as active and public transport, protects households from fuel shocks while cutting healthcare spending," she added.

During the launch, Clean Air Asia and UP Cebu signed a memorandum of understanding for the installation of new air quality sensors. Organizers also unveiled a public mural through 350 Pilipinas and the Concerned Artists of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter.

Cebu CAN includes Clean Air Asia, the UP Cebu Center for Environmental Informatics, 350 Pilipinas, the Concerned Artists of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter, the Health Alliance for Climate and Clean Air Philippines, the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice, AktivAsia, Health Care Without Harm, Greenpeace Cebu and Amnesty International.

The coalition launched its campaign ahead of the Philippines' hosting of the 49th ASEAN Summit in Manila on Nov. 16 to 18, where transboundary haze is among the issues on the agenda.

It urged ASEAN leaders to address cross-border haze while calling on the Philippine government to set clear domestic pollution targets and expand real-time air quality reporting.

Cebu CAN plans to engage local governments in developing clean air action plans and improving energy and transport policies.(MyTVCebu)