PHILIPPINE CLEAN AIR ACT AND ITS IRR Sources of Air and Pollution

1. Stationary source - Emission from power plants,

June 23, 1999​ – CAA was enacted oil refineries, industrial facilities, and factories
July 02, 1999​ – publication of CAA 2. Mobile source - Emission from cars, buses,
July 17, 1999​ – effectivity of CAA planes, trucks, and trains
July 17, 2003​ – phase out of hospital 3. Area source - Emission from agricultural areas,
Incinerator (Section 20) cities, and wood burning fireplaces
Nov. 07, 2000​ – IRR signed (DAO 2000-81) 4. Natural source - Wind-blown dust, wildfires,
Nov. 10, 2000​ – publication of IRR and volcanoes
Nov. 25, 2000​ – effectivity of IRR
Salient features of Republic Act No. 8749 or
Air Pollution The Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999
Any alteration of the physical, chemical and • Guarantee the PEOPLE’S right to breathe
biological properties of the atmospheric air, or any CLEAN AIR
discharge thereto of any liquid, gaseous or solid
substances that will or is likely to create or to Section 2. Declaration Of Principles
render the air resources of the country harmful, • Cleaning the habitat and environment is primarily
detrimental, or injurious to public health, safety or area-based.
welfare or which will adversely affect their • “Polluters must pay”
utilization for domestic, commercial, industrial, • Clean and healthy environment is for the good of
agricultural, recreational, or other legitimate all and should therefore be the concern of all.
purposes.
Section 4. Recognition Of Rights
Air Pollutant Citizens have the right to:
Any matter found in the atmosphere other than • Breathe clean air;
oxygen, nitrogen, water vapor, carbon dioxide, and • Utilize and enjoy all natural resources according
the inert gasses in their natural or normal to the principle of sustainable development;
concentrations, that is detrimental to health or the • Be informed of the nature and extent of potential
environment, which includes but not limited to hazard of any activity, undertaking or project and
smoke, dust, soot, cinders, fly ash, solid particles to be served timely notice of any significant rise in
of any kind, gasses, fumes, chemical mists, steam the level of pollution and the accidental or
and radio-active substances; deliberate release into the atmosphere of harmful
or hazardous substances;
Ambient Air Quality • Bring action in court for compensation of
The general amount of pollution present in a broad personal damages resulting from the adverse
area; and refers to the atmosphere’s average purity environmental and public health impact of a
as distinguished from discharge measurements project or activity.
taken at the source of pollution.
Air Quality Management System
Emission
Any air contaminant, pollutant, gas stream or Section 6: The DENR shall prepare an annual
unwanted sound from a known source which is National Air Quality Status Report which shall
passed into the atmosphere. include, but shall not be limited to the following:
• Extent of pollution
Pollution Control Device • Analysis and evaluation of air pollution
Any device or apparatus used to prevent, control or • Identification of critical areas, activities, or
abate the pollution of air caused by emissions from projects which will need closer monitoring or
identified pollution sources at levels within the air regulation;
pollution control standard established by the • Recommendations for necessary executive and
Department. legislative action
Section 9. Airsheds Section 12. Ambient Air quality Guideline Values
• “Areas with similar climate, meteorology and and Standards
topology which affect the interchange and
diffusion of pollutants in the atmosphere, or areas
Pollutant Standard, Averaging
which share common interest or face similar
µg/NCM Time
development programs, prospects or problems.”
• For a more effective air quality management, a TSP 230 24 hrs
system of planning and coordination shall be
established, and a common action plan shall be PM 10 150 24 hrs
formulated for each airshed.
• To effectively carry out the formulated action Sulfur 180 24
plans, a Governing Board is hereby created. Dioxide

The Board shall be headed by the DENR Secretary Nitrogen 150 24

as chairman. The members shall be as follows: Dioxide
a. Provincial Governor
b. City/Municipal Mayors Carbon 35 mg/NCM 1 hr
c. A representative from each concerned Monoxide 10 mg/NCM 8 hrs
government agency:
d. Representatives from people’s organizations Section 12. National Ambient Air Quality
e. Representatives from NGOs Standards For Source Specific Air Pollutants From
f. Representatives from the private sector Industrial Sources/Operations

The Board shall perform the following functions:

• Formulation of policies Pollutant Standard, Averaging
• Preparation of a common action plan; µg/NCM Time
• Coordination of functions among its members;
TSP 300 24 hrs
• Submission and publication of an annual Air
Quality Status Report for each airshed. PM 10 200 24 hrs

Section 10: Management of Non-attainment Areas Sulfur 470 30 min

The Department shall designate areas where Dioxide 340 1 hr
specific pollutants have already exceeded ambient
standards as non-attainment areas and shall Nitrogen 375 30 min
prepare and implement a program that will prohibit Dioxide 260 1 hr
new sources of exceeded air pollutant without a
corresponding reduction in existing sources.

The Department after consultation with LGU,

NGOs, POs and concerned sectors may revise the
designation of such areas and expand its coverage
to cover larger areas depending on the condition of
the areas.
Air Pollution Clearances and Permits For Section 13. Plant Operational Problems
Stationary Sources In the event that the permittee is temporarily
unable to comply with any of the conditions of the
Section 19. Pollution from Stationary Sources Permit to Operate due to breakdown of the
With respect to any trade, industry, process and installation covered by the Permit for any cause, he
fuel-burning equipment or industrial plant emitting or his PCO shall immediately notify within 24
air pollutants, the concentration at the point of hours from occurrence of such breakdown the
emission shall not exceed the following limits: Department through the Bureau of such cause(s),
and the steps being taken to solve the problem and
prevent its recurrence.
Fuel Burning Particulates
Equipment
Section 10, Rule XIX. Grounds for Suspension
Urban or Industrial 150 mg/Ncm or Revocation of Permits
Area • Non-compliance with, or violation of any
provision of Act, the IRR, and/or Permit
Other Area 200 mg/Ncm conditions;
• False or inaccurate information in the application
Cement Plants (Kilns, 150 mg/Ncm for permit that led to the issuance of Permit;
etc. • Refusal to allow lawful inspection conducted by
the Department through the Bureau of duly
Smelting Furnaces 150 mg/Ncm authorized personnel;

Other stationary 200 mg/Ncm Fines And Penalties

sources (e.g. Genset) Section 45. Violation of Standards for
Stationary Sources
Section 16. Permits For actual exceedance of any pollution or air
The Department shall have the authority to issue quality standards under this Act or IRR, the
Permits as it may determine necessary for the Department, through the PAB, shall impose a fine
prevention and abatement of air pollution. of not more than One Hundred Thousand Pesos
(Php100,000.00) for every day of violation against
Section 1, Rule XIX of IRR the owner or operator of a stationary source until
All sources of air pollution subject to these IRR such time that the standards have been complied
must have a valid Permit to Operate issued by the with
Director
• Permit to Operate - refers to the legal PAB Resolution 2019-01
authorization granted by the Bureau to operate or Determination of permitting violations and
maintain any installation for a specified period of imposition of fines there to a fine of nineteen
time thousand five hundred pesos (PHP 19,500) shall be
imposed for a 5 year violation by the
Section 5, Rule XIX of IRR establishment.
An application for a Permit to Operate shall be
filed for each source emitting regulated air —----------------------------------------------------------
pollutants. Facilities having more than one source
may group the sources under a single permit
application, provided that the requirements are met
for each individual source.

Section 8, Rule XIX of IRR

Temporary Permit to Operate For purposes of
sampling, planning, research and other similar
purposes, the Department through the Bureau,
upon submission of satisfactory proof, may issue a
TPO not to exceed ninety (90) days provided that
the applicant has a pending application for a
Permit to Operate.
NATIONAL AIR QUALITY STATUS REPORT Administrative Functions and Operations in the
2016-2018 Air Quality Management
RA 8749: Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999
The Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 aims to
achieve and maintain healthy air for all. It contains
the legal mandate of governmental agencies in
managing the outdoor air quality in the
Philippines, listing all potential sources of outdoor
air pollution while providing ambient air quality
guidelines and standards for emissions.Its
implementation is a multi-sectoral undertaking, led
by the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources. Based on RA 8749, the Air Quality Management
System (AQMgtS) is directly under the
responsibility of the DENR, and generally, but not
The Department of Environment and Natural
limited, through the EMB. The system is divided
Resources (DENR)- Environmental
into four major areas: Air Quality Management
Management Bureau (EMB) is the mandated
Information System (AQ MIS), Airshed and
lead agency in the implementation of RA 8749.
Non-attainment Area Management through the
Mainly tasked to monitor the outdoor air pollution;
Airshed Governing Board (ASG), Air Quality
prepare a National Air Quality Status Report
Management Fund (AQMF), Air Pollution
which shall be used as a basis in formulating the
Research and Development (APR&D) Program
Integrated Air Quality Improvement Framework;
(Figure 1). The DENR EMB being the lead agency
issue rules and regulations in the implementation
in promulgating the provisions of RA 8749, are
of the Act. The lead agency in the implementation
also the lead air quality managers. Aside from the
of RA 8749, the Environmental Management
administrative component, the RA 8749 has both
Bureau (EMB): oversees the ambient air quality
monitoring and research components. It is
monitoring and to prepare annual National Air
important to note that the monitoring component
Quality Status Reports; design and develop,
of air quality management is tasked to the
(together with the PSA) an information network
Environmental Quality Division-Air Quality
for data storage, retrieval and exchange, which will
Monitoring Section (DENR-EMB-AQMS). On the
serve as the central depositary of all data and
other hand, the research component of air quality
information related to air quality; issue and, from
management is tasked to the Environmental
time to time, revise information on air pollution
Research and Laboratory Services Division
control techniques upon consultation with the
(DENR-EMB-ERLSD), has functions to generate
appropriate committees, government agencies and
good quality, scientific data and information to
local government units (LGUs); review and/or
support formulation of environmental policies,
revise and publish annually a list of hazardous air
standards, rules and regulations on existing and
pollutants with corresponding ambient guidelines
anticipated environmental issues. The ERLSD can
values and/or standards necessary to protect public
also lead in formulating developing, coordinating
health and safety, and general welfare; design,
and implementing short-term and long-term
impose on and collect regular emission fees from
research programs at the national and regional
industrial dischargers as part of the emissions
level. The ERLSD can also provide assistance in
permitting system based on environmental
the implementation of environmental pollution
techniques; review, or as the need therefore arises,
control laws and the conduct of environmental
and revise and publish emission standards to
research programs.
further improve the emission standards for
stationary sources of air pollution as well as
emission standards for motor vehicles; develop,
implement and monitor the functioning of
permitting system as it may determine necessary
for the prevention and abatement of air pollution
by stationary sources. The EMB is also tasked to
monitor compliance with emission standards for
stationary sources, and to require any person who
owns or operates any emission source.
Other Agency Roles and Responsibilities in the The Department of Energy (DoE) shall
Air Quality Management (RA 8749) consultatively shall set specifications for all types
The Department of Transportation (DoTr) is of fuel and fuelrelated products, to improve fuel
mandated to implement the emission standards for composition for increased efficiency and reduced
motor vehicle (Section 21), impose the fines and emissions (Section 26).
penalties for violation of these standards (Section The DOE, shall also specify the allowable content
25) and conduct emission testing and of additives in all types of fuels and fuel-related
apprehensions (Section 46). The DoTr is also products. Such standards shall be based primarily
mandated to establish roadside motor vehicle on threshold levels of health and research studies.
inspection system (Section 46), contribute towards On the basis of such specifications, the DOE shall
the establishment of the Motor Vehicle Inspection likewise limit the content or begin the phase-out of
system (MVIS), authorize private emission testing additives in all types of fuels and fuel-related
centers and contribute in the related training products as it may deem necessary. Other agencies
programs. involved in the performance of this function shall
be required to coordinate with the DOE and
Under Section 21, the Department of Trade and transfer all documents and information
Industry (DTI) is mandated to participate in the necessary for the implementation of this provision.
formulation of an Action Plan for the control and
management of air pollution from motor vehicles, The Department of Science and Technology
contribute towards the establishment of procedures (DOST) shall be coordinated by the DENR on the
for inspection of motor vehicles, assist in the establishment of a National Research and
formulation and implementation of the National Development Program for the prevention and
Motor Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance control of air pollution, with special emphasis to
Program, accredit private emission testing centers research on and the development of improved
develop and implement standards and procedures methods having industrywide application for the
for the certification of training institutions, prevention and control of air pollution (Section
instructors and facilities and licensing of qualified 15). Such a research and development program
private service centers and their technicians, shall develop air quality guideline values and
prescribe regulations requiring the disclosure of standards in addition to internationallyaccepted
odometer readings and use of tamper-resistant standards. It shall also consider the socio-cultural,
odometers, including tamper resistant fuel political and economic implications of air quality
management systems. Under Section 22, the DTI management and pollution control (Section 22).
shall promulgate the necessary regulations The DOST shall also be consulted on the Air
prescribing the useful life of vehicles and engines Quality Framework (Section 26). The DOST’s
including devices in order to ensure that such PNRI shall regulate all projects that will involve
vehicles will conform to the emissions which they Radioactive Emissions (Section 33), while the
were certified to meet. These regulations shall DOST’s PAGASA shall regularly monitor
include provisions for ensuring the durability of meteorological factors affecting environmental
emission devices. Under Section 26 (on Fuels and conditions including ozone depletion and
Additives), the Bureau of Product Standards (BPS) greenhouse gases and coordinate with the DENR
of the DT shall be consulted on the set in order to effectively guide air pollution
specifications for all types of fuel and fuel-related monitoring and standard- setting activities (Section
products, to improve fuel composition for 31). The JAO 2006-01 on Environment
increased efficiency and reduced emissions: Technology Verification processes is the lone Joint
Provided, however, That the specifications for all Administrative Order of DOST with DENR, but
types of fuel and fuel-related products set-forth opens several connections on air quality
pursuant to this section shall be adopted by the management, such as developing the guidelines on
BPS as Philippine National Standards (PNS). On air pollution control technologies, as well as
the Violation of Standards for Motor Vehicles developing the ETV procedures for testing aerosol
(Section 46) the DTI shall contribute on the related measurement technologies. In relation to this, the
training program. In the IRR, Rule XXXII, Sec ETV is also needed for the control technologies to
2The DTI through the Bureau of Import Services address the end-of-life disposal of lighting
(BIS) shall formulate regulations and guidelines products and control the dispersion of toxic
that will ensure rebuilt and imported second hand substances into the environment, as stated in the
motor vehicles and engines will satisfy the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department
emission standards for rebuilt and imported second of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
hand motor vehicles.
Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. law shall be spearheaded by the Philippine
2013-09-200. National Police (PNP) in coordination with the
DOH, Department of Interior and Local
With the DENR, the Philippine Statistics Authority Government (DILG), Department of the
(PSA) shall design the Air Quality Database which Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and
shall be computerized and stored in a manner the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), after public
accessible to the public and shall contain data consultations. The EO provides that “such rules
collected from the Ambient Air Monitoring and regulations shall form an integral part of the
Network and the Emissions Inventory (IRR, Part V, IRR of a previously enacted law banning
Section 3). firecrackers.

Relevant Agency Policy on Air Quality Status of Development of Policies on Air

The RA 9729 (Climate Change Act of 2009) Quality
mandates relevant government agencies to In December 2015 (reported in 2016) a DAO on
mainstream the Climate Change into Government the ‘Establishment of Standard for Ambient
policy formulations, establishing the framework Hazardous Air Pollutants’ has been endorsed to
strategy and Program on Climate Change, creating DENR. However, it was not approved, since the
for this purpose the Climate Change Commission industries were still opposing the established
and for other purposes. Under Section 15, the standards set in the DAO. A revised final draft of
DENR shall oversee the establishment and the DAO has been submitted to the DENR for
maintenance of a climate change information further review/evaluation of the Undersecretaries
management system and network, including on and Assistant Secretaries. In 2017, a DAO on
climate change risk, activities and investments, in ‘Noise Emission Standards/Limits for Motorcycle,
collaboration with other national government Tricycle and Moped’ has been developed, and
agencies, institutions and LGUs. submitted to the DENR-EMB legal Division for
review.
The Executive Order No. 489 Series of 1991
“Institutionalizing the Inter-agency committee on In 2016-2017, There were two policies/guidelines
environmental health (IACEH) by President reviewed, including a DAO on ‘Establishing the
Corazon Cojuanco Aquino, primarily to formulate Air Quality Index (AQI) Breakpoint values for
policies, promulgate guidelines and develop DAO 2013-13 Provisional National Ambient Air
programs for environmental health protection. The Quality Guideline Values for Particulate Matter2.5’
IACEH is Chaired by the Secretary of Health, and a DAO on the ‘Guidelines for the
while the Secretary of the DENR is the Vice Chair. Accreditation of Third Party Provider for the
Underway is the implementing guidelines for EO conduct of test audits of continuous emission
489, by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in which Monitoring Systems (CEMS) and Continuous
seven (7) sectoral groups of environmental health Opacity Monitoring Systems (COMS)’
priorities are tasked to lead in formulating and
updating the NEHAP plans. Air quality and health In 2016, the Air Quality Management Fund11
is one of the sector, Chaired by the DENR, and (AQMF), formerly labeled Fund 155 was changed
co-chaired by the Department of Transportation. to fund 337 due to UACS revised chart of
accounts. The fund collections reported here
The Executive Order No. 26 “Providing for the includes supervision and regulation enforcement
establishment of smoke-free environments in fees, other service income, other gains, LTP fines
public and enclosed spaces” by President Rodrigo and Penalties.
Roa Duterte. Enacted to fortify the State’s duty to
instill health consciousness among the people and The Air Quality Management fund has been the
to protect and promote their right to health as source of funds of the 22 Airshed governing Board
provided in the 1987 Constitution. The statute is of the Philippines, nationwide. From 2016-2018,
also in line with the State’s duty under the the variance in the actual versus target of the
Philippine Clean Air Act to ensure that every collections and remittances has either decreased
citizen is secured in his right to breathe clean air. (from -27% in 2016 to -7% in 2018) or increased
The “Executive Order No. 28 “Providing For The at 234% in 2017.
Regulation and Control of the Use of Firecrackers
And Other Pyrotechnic Devices,” by President
Rodrigo Roa Duterte The formulation of the
Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of this
Status of Management of Air Pollution Sources Status of Ambient Air Quality Monitoring
Air Pollution Management Programs of the
DENR-EMB-AQMS increases in performance Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Capability of
from 2016 to 2018. Sources are categorized as EMB
Stationary, mobile and area. (Definition in the The purpose of having a prescribed monitoring
CAA) There are two programs in the management equipment and technology is to provide safeguard
of stationary sources. to the DENREMB in reporting reliable data - to
• The Linis Hangin (Clean Air) Program has two ensure that any data released is with satisfactory
monitoring activities: (1) the issuance of quality, and at par with national and international
Certificate of Conformity (Euro 4)15 to industries, standards. This safeguard results to the
and the (2) Bantay Tsimeneya (Stack Monitoring) DENR-EMB becoming restrictive in the choice of
that take charge in the issuance of permit to monitoring equipment and technology, which is
operate16 (PO) for air, whether these are new both an advantage and a disadvantage to them.
application or renewal. Currently, the DENR-EMB monitoring network is
• The Industrial Compliance Monitoring Program references on the USEPA requirements based on
surveys the firms within the CAMANAVA area, 40 CFR Part 58, Appendix d and 40 CFR Part 58
major urban centers and the rest of the Philippines Appendix E, with considerations also given to the
In the Management of mobile sources, the local conditions and data availability, such as
DENR-EMB-AQMS monitors the Private emission population, economic activities/ development and
Testing Centers (PETCs) nationwide and requires land uses. Required equipment technology of the
them to submit an annual report. DENR-EMB-CO is restrictive because its
monitoring objective is mainly for compliance.
In 2018, the performance increased by 53% due to
the intensified survey conducted in compliance From 2016-2018, there are two kinds of Air
with the instruction of DENR Secretary to conduct Quality Monitoring Stations (AQMS) installed
survey and inspection of all establishments located throughout the Philippines, an Continuous
in the beaches/recreational water bodies. This Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station and a
larger coverage of permit to operate has led to Manual Monitoring Station
major improvement in the stationary emissions
which decreased to 20% since 2015 inventory I. Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring
Station
Management of Mobile Sources
The DENR-EMB monitors the operations on the 1. Continuous Open-Path Monitoring Station
Private emission testing centers (PETCs), on the
issuance of certificate of conformity to new Is using the following instruments:
vehicles for registration. Since the number of o Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy
motor vehicles registered in the country increases (DOAS) - is an equivalent method used for
through the years (Figure 2), the actual number of measuring the concentration of Ozone, Sulfur
COCs issued is also expected to increase. In fact, Oxides, Nitrogen Oxides, Benzene, Toluene,
the issued COC in 2016 (332) increased by more pXylene in the air. Calibration Requirement:
than 50% the following year (504), exceeding the Reference and Span: O3, SOX, NOX, Benzene,
years’ targets. Toluene, p-Xylene (BTX) o Non–Dispersive
InfraRed (NDIR)- is a USEPA reference method
Mobile sources remain the largest source of for measuring the concentration of Carbon
emissions, ‘due to various factors, such as Monoxide (CO) pollutants in the air. Calibration
continuous operation of old and non-compliant (to Requirement: Zero and Span: CO. o Tapered
emission standards) motor vehicles, traffic Element Oscillating Microbalance (TEOM) - a
congestion, and the continuous increase of motor USEPA equivalent method used for measuring
vehicles operating on the roads, among others’. Particulate Matter 10 (PM10) and Particulate
Status of Emissions Inventory Matter 2.5 (PM2.5), which uses the gravimetric
At the National level, the contribution of emissions principle using a standard flow rate of the
from mobile sources increased from 65% in 2015 following: 3.00 liters per minute (lpm) for PM2.5,
to 74% in 2018; its levels also exhibited increasing 1.67 lpm for PM Coarse, and 12.00 lpm for Bypass
trend from 2002 to 2018, at a rate of two million Flow Rate, for a total flow rate of 16.67 lpm.
tons per year. The stationary source, has shown to Calibration Requirement: Flow Rate, Ambient
decrease by 20% since its 2015 value, while area Temperature and Pressure of Meteorological
source decreased by 5% from its 2015 inventory. Instruments (MET) - composed on sensors to
monitor Temperature, Pressure, Relative Humidity, region. Nevertheless, the annual average of the
Global Radiation, RainFall, Wind Speed and Wind data from stations used in averaging are detailed in
Direction. Calibration Requirement: Span values Appendix 2, for transparency and for reference.
as per manufacturer’s specification.
Among the regions, NCR, Region 5 and Region 13
2. Particulate Monitoring System (PMS) has complete annual monitoring values of TSP
since 2004 up to 2018. On the other hand, Regions
Is using the following instruments: 6 and Region 7 completed the monitoring from
o Beta Attenuation Monitor (BAM) - is a USEPA 2016 to 2018 (See Appendix 2).
equivalent method which measures the particulate
matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5) in the air. Calibration The regions of NCR, Region 1, Region 5, Region
Requirement: Mass Foil, Flow Rate, Ambient 6, Region 7, Region 8, Region 9, Region 11 and
Temperature and Pressure. Region 13 have complete annual monitoring values
o Meteorological Instruments (MET) - composed of PM10 from 2016 to 2018. Long term
on sensors to monitor Temperature, Pressure, monitoring from 2012-2018 for NCR, Region 1,
Relative Humidity, Global Radiation, Rain Fall, Region 7, Region 12 are in place (See Appendix
Wind Speed and Wind Direction. Calibration 2). The annual PM10 nationwide geometric means
Requirement: Span values as per manufacturer’s complied the guideline of 60 µg/NCM in
specification 2016-2018.

3. Conventional Monitoring Stations (CMS) The NCR has been monitoring PM2.5 since 2013.
The Regions 1, 4A, 5, and 13 have complete the
Is using various USEPA equivalent methods annual monitoring values of PM2.5 from 2016 to
monitoring instruments for the continuous 2018 (See appendix 2). The Philippine annual
measurements of Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen PM2.5 nationwide geometric mean is also within
Dioxide (NO2) and Ozone (O3) the guideline of 35 µg/NCM in 2018

II. Manual Monitoring Stations —----------------------------------------------------------

Is using USEPA reference method monitoring

instruments particularly the gravimetric method for
the measurements of Total Suspended Particulates
(TSP), PM10 and PM2.5. The frequency of
sampling for this kind of station is once every six
(6) days, pursuant to the provisions under the
section 12 of the RA8749.

Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Results

The annual geometric mean were calculated per

region by using the annual averages from the
monitoring stations with qualified number of data.
The criteria is that in order to be included in the
regional geometric average, the data capture rate in
the station must not be less than 75%. Hence, data
cells that are grey in color does not necessarily
mean that there is no measurement value, but
rather, the annual average has not reached 75%
data capture rate, as deemed necessary in obtaining
the geometric average per region.

It is important to note that the station data, when

averaged, may not entirely represent the air
pollution in the whole region, because of the
confounding factors of land-use, topography and
meteorology, that tends to differentiate the air
quality from one place to another in a certain
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT 4. What types of waste are generated in the
Solid waste refers to all discarded household, Philippines?
commercial waste, non hazardous institutional and - 52% of the solid waste generated in the
industrial waste, street sweepings, construction Philippines is biodegradable,
debris, agricultural waste, and other non
hazardous/non-toxic waste (RA No. 9003)

15 Statistics about Solid Waste Management in the

Philippines that Every Filipino should Know

1. How much waste does the Philippines produce

yearly?
• The Philippines was estimated to generate 18.05
Million Tons in 2020, according to the latest Solid
Waste Management Status Report (2008-2018)
• That’s equivalent to the weight of more than 2
MILLION ELEPHANTS!
5. In the Philippines, where do municipal solid
2. How much waste does an average Filipino wastes come from?
produce? • Most of solid waste that Filipinos generate come
• In the Philippines, a person generates around from residential sources – 57% of it!
0.40 kg daily. • These are in the form of kitchen scraps, yard
• To compare, in Singapore, a person generates waste, paper, and plastic, among other types of
3.72 kg of solid waste daily (otherwise known as waste
daily per capita generation).

5. In the Philippines, where do municipal solid

wastes come from?
• Because residential sources generate a major
percentage, municipal solid waste management
3. What can affect a person’s waste generation? should focus on reducing waste generation by
• Daily waste generation of a person may be higher households.
(or lower) with • Although industrial solid waste consist only 4%
• changes in lifestyle, of total Philippine solid waste, managing it
• urbanization level, and requires much effort and resources.
• migration patterns.
6. How many years has the Philippine waste 9. Have people been punished for violating the
management law been in effect? provisions of the solid waste management law?
• Republic Act 9003 “The Ecological Solid Waste • A December 2020 Municipal Trial Court
Management Act of 2000” is in effect for 24 years Decision found an elected official in Region 3
• RA 9003 is a declaration to “adopt a systematic, (Central Luzon) guilty of violating provisions on
comprehensive and ecological solid waste the establishment and operation of open dumps
management program.” (Section 48 (9)).
• Three presidents – MacapagalArroyo, Aquino, • Sentence is a fine of P500,000 and 5% of net
Duterte – were not enough to achieve the salient annual income for the year 2010.
conditions of Republic Act 9003, particularly • 600 local government executives were
waste segregation at investigated by the Ombudsman through
complaints filed by the Ecowaste Coalition on
7. Does the Philippines recycle? February 2016.
• Waste diversion are “activities which reduce or • The progress of the investigations manifest that
eliminate the amount of solid waste from waste local governments are being made accountable for
disposal facilities (RA 9003).” failure to implement proper solid waste
• These include reduction of waste at the source, management systems.
recycling and composting.
• A Rappler article reports that, as of 2016, only 10. How much of Philippine waste is plastic
5% of total Philippine waste is recycled. waste?
• 50% is the target waste diversion rate of the • 10% of total waste generated by the Philippines
incumbent National Solid Waste Management is plastic waste, according to a 2019 PhilStar
Strategy (2012-2016). article.
• Latest available data of 2015 suggests that • It is good that plastic waste is receiving
average diversion rate in Metro Manila is 48% worldwide attention because it is really a difficult
while outside Metro Manila is 46% (although material to dispose.
manyLGUs report lower.) • However, other types of waste are not receiving
as much attention, e.g., food waste and paper
8. How many barangays have material recovery waste.
facilities? • Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) refers
• 32% of total barangays in the Philippines are to the environmental policy approach and practice
served by material recovery facilities (MRFs) as of that requires producers to be environmentally
2018. responsible throughout the life cycle of a product,
• Out of the 42,044 barangays in the Philippines in especially its postconsumer or end-of-life stage
2018, 13,612 were served by MRFs (NSWMC • RA 11898 — otherwise known as the Extended
Report 2008- 2018). Producer Responsibility Act of 2022 — lapsed into
• Republic Act 9003 defines material recovery law on the 23rd July 2022. In a nutshell, the law
facilities as a facility “designed to receive, sort, holds companies accountable for the plastic
process, and store compostable and recyclable packaging they produce throughout the lifecycle of
material efficiently and in an environmentally their products.
sound manner (Section 33).”
• The law does not mandate individual barangays
to operate individual MRFs. Facilities can be
shared among clusters of barangays.
11. Do local governments in the Philippines plan 13. Does waste management affect climate
solid waste management? change?
• Philippine provinces, cities and municipalities are • In 2018, the Philippine waste sector was
mandated by law to prepare 10-year solid waste estimated to contribute 6% of the total human
management plans. induced greenhouse gas emissions of the country.
• As of November 17, 2021, 65.3% of all LGUs • The solid waste sector contributes to
have approved solid waste management plans. Still human-induced GHG emissions mainly through
under evaluation are 30.4% of LGU SWM plans; collection and disposal processes.
around 4% have not submitted SWM plans for • Garbage trucks run on fossil fuel.
approval. • Waste diversion facilities have machines that emit
smoke.
12. How is waste disposed in the Philippines? • Backyard burning becomes harmful as waste
• The Philippine Ecological Solid Waste content includes plastic waste.
Management Law mandates sanitary landfills as • Incineration is prohibited in the country through
“alternative final disposal sites” to open and the Clean Air Act (RA 8749), so waste-to-energy
controlled dumpsites. (WTE) is being pursued.
• Sanitary landfills have “engineering control over • However, the pursuit of WTE technologies is also
significant potential environmental impacts.” deemed a loss scenario by waste campaign groups.
• In 2018, only around 22% Philippine local
government units have access to sanitary landfills 14. How much do local governments spend on
• Local government units are not required to waste management?
establish their own sanitary landfills. (The • According to What a Waste 2.0, high income
NSWMC has a list of operational sanitary countries spend 4% of total municipal budget on
landfills.) solid waste, middle-income countries 11%, and
• Common waste disposal facilities, and waste low-income countries 19%.
management facilities in general, can be shared, • The Philippines is classified as a
pursuant to the Cooperative Undertakings lower-middle-income country
provision of the Local Government Code (Section • Municipalities in developing countries like the
33 of Republic Act 7160. Philippines typically spend 80-90% of their total
• In 2018, there were still 353 illegal dumpsites municipal solid waste budget spent on collection
operating (NSWMC). and disposal services, based on a 2013 study of
• All dumpsites should have been closed and developing countries.
phased out in 2006. • Reducing generated solid waste will also reduce
• In August 2021, DENR reported that all open the needed budget for collection and disposal.
dumpsites have been shut down. • A model in waste collection budget is San
Fernando City, Pampanga, which has reduced its
waste management expenditure from P70M to
P15M.
15. How can the informal sector help improve
municipal waste management systems?
• A 2012 study found that in Quezon City, the
informal sector recovers 30% of total municipal
solid waste.
• The informal sector refers to scavengers, waste
pickers, and other individuals who are “involved in
the extraction of recyclable and reusable materials
from mixed waste (Wilson 2006)”.
• The informal sector has been argued to be an
important component of the solid waste
management system, particularly by a 2012 study
in Iloilo City.
• While the activities of the informal sector provide
enhanced income opportunities for the poor, they
are not always integrated in waste management
strategies.

—----------------------------------------------------------
Environment is a composition of mutually related THE EARTH AND ITS ATMOSPHERE
parts of external factors that are interconnected.
The environment of a given system must interact The Earth’s Atmosphere
must interact with other parts of its own system in The Earth is surrounded by a blanket of air which
order for it to sustain and develop. we call the atmosphere. The atmosphere absorbs
the energy from the Sun, as well as is also recycles
Environmental engineering is a professional water and other chemicals, and reacts with the
engineering discipline that encompassesbroad electrical and magnetic forces to maintain a certain
scientific topics like chemistry, biology, ecology, climate.
geology, hydraulics, hydrology, microbiology, and
mathematics to create solutions that will protect The Layers of the Atmosphere
and also improve the health of living organisms 1. Troposphere - The indicator of all types of
and improve the quality of the environment. weather. The air pressure at the top of troposphere
Environmental engineering is a sub-discipline of is only 10% of that of the sea level.
civil engineering and chemical engineering. 2. Stratosphere - Air flow is mostly horizontal. The
thin ozone layer in the upper stratosphere has high
Engineering is the application of acquired and concentration of ozone, a layer primarily
technical knowledge to solve human problems. responsible for absorbing the ultraviolet radiation
Engineers are people who practices the profession from the sun.
of engineering and the result is the design, 3. Mesosphere - The region where meteors or rock
production and operation of useful objects or fragments are burned up.
processes. Engineering is divided into four main 4. Thermosphere or also called Ionosphere -
categories, namely: chemical, civil, electrical and wherein in this region many atoms are ionized. A
mechanical engineering. very thin layer where aurora takes place, and also
responsible for absorbing the most energetic
Environmental engineering is the application of photons from the Sun, and for reflecting radio
scientific and engineering principles to improve waves, thereby making long distance radio
and maintain the environment to: communication possible.
• protect human health, 5. Exosphere - is very thin and the upper limit in
• protect nature's beneficial ecosystems, the atmosphere. The region where atoms and
• and improve environmental-related enhancement molecules escape into space.
of the quality of human life.
Composition of Earth Atmosphere
1. Pressure - A direct result of the weight of air.
Atmospheric pressure is not constant and is
affected by altitude and temperature.

The Ozone Layer

Ozone is pale blue, highly poisonous gas with a
strong odor. It is one of three forms, called
allotropes, of the element oxygen. The ozone layer
is very essential by absorbing solar ultraviolet
radiation. Stratospheric ozone is considered
“good” for humans and other life forms because it
absorbs UV-B radiation from the sun. Whereas, the
ground level ozone is a bad ozone also a main
ingredient in cough-inducing, eye-stinging smog.
Ozone produced by pollutants formed when
emissions from motor vehicles and other related
industry reacts with heat and sunlight.
AIR AND NOISE POLLUTION c. Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) is a brownish reactive
gas called oxides of nitrogen. Whenever air is
Air Pollution heated to high temperatures, such as in
automobiles cylinders or high temperature
Air is the most basic need of every human being.
furnaces of power plants and industrial boilers,
At rest, we breathe about six (6) liters of air every nitrogen oxides (NOx) are produced, the inert
minute or 8,640 liters of air a day. Air supplies us atmospheric nitrogen combines with oxygen to
with oxygen for our bodily function to activate. form nitric oxides and later turns into nitrogen
Unfortunately, with every breath of air we take, we dioxide (NO2).
also inhale a host of invisible substances that
attack our health and well-being. d. Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless,
poisonous gas resulting from incomplete fossil fuel
combustion which is slightly lighter than air.
The undesirable condition in the physical,
chemical and biological properties of the e. Lead (Pb) is a metal found naturally in the
atmosphere is conversely known as air pollution. environment as well as in manufactured products.
Sources of Air Pollution f. Ozone at the ground level is a colorless gas
A. Natural Sources which is the major substance of the photochemical
1. Natural sources of air pollution are sources not smog.
caused by people or their activities such as
volcanic eruption and forest fires. 2. Non-Criteria Pollutants are the entire range of
2. Agricultural Sources is due to agricultural contaminants other than Criteria Air Contaminants
operations like raising animals and (CACs) including other toxic and hazardous
growing crops. pollutants.
B. Anthropogenic Sources a. Solids and Metals such as mercury and lead can
1. Mobile source refers to source that is capable of become airborne and eventually enter water and
moving under its own power such as automobiles food supplies. Heavy metals contaminants can
and machineries. become localized in mud and soil and, if left
2. Area source is used to describe many smaller undisturbed, lay dominant indefinitely. Some
stationary sources located together whose metals such as iron, cobalt, copper, manganese,
individual emissions may be low with collective molybdenum, and zinc are required by humans in
emissions are significant. minute amounts but are damaging in excessive
3. Stationary sources include industrial plants. amounts. Some are carcinogenic or toxic to the
central nervous system (manganese, mercury, lead,
Types of Air Pollutants and arsenic). Some effect the liver and kidneys
1. Criteria Pollutants are the only air pollutants (mercury, lead, cadmium, and And some affect the
with national air quality standards that define skin, bones, or teeth (nickel,cadmium, copper,
allowable concentrations of these six (6) common chromium).
air pollutants in ambient air.
b. Persistent organic pollutants(POPs) also called
a. Particulate Matter (PM) is a mixture of solid Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) can last in
particles and liquid droplets in the air and may the environment for long periods of time and are
either be visible or microscopic. capable of travelling great distances in the air.
They can also ‘travel’ up the food chain,
b. Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) is colorless, odorless at bio-accumulating in body tissues. Even in low
low concentration but pungent at very high concentrations they can cause cancer and are
concentrations. disruptive to many critical biological functions
including endocrine, reproductive, immune, and
neurological. POPs are used in industrial process,
in pesticides, and in the production of goods such
as solvents, polyvinyl chloride, and
pharmaceuticals. A list of the most studied POPs,
known as the dirty dozen, includes: aldrin,
chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor,
hexachlorobenzene, mirex, polychlorinated
dibenzofurans, and toxaphene. There are many Effects of Air Pollution
other POPs of concern, including carcinogenic 1. Menace to health
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ( PAHs), 2. Modification of Earth’s climate
brominated flame-retardants, and organometallic 3. Economic problems due to damage to
compounds like tributyltin. Dioxins are one of the vegetation, animals, materials and visibility.
most poisonous chemicals known.
Noise pollution
c. Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) are Air pollution
chemicals that destroy the Earth’s protective Biological pollution
ozone layer. They include chlorofluorocarbons Electromagnetic pollution
(CFCs), halon, carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), Natural pollution
methyl chloroform (CH3CCl3), Radiation pollution
hydrobromofluorocarbons (HBFCs), Soil pollution
hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), methyl
bromide (CH3Br), and bromochloromethane Noise pollution, also known as environmental
(CH2BrCl). Production and import of these noise or sound pollution, is the propagation of
chemicals is controlled by the Montreal Protocol noise with ranging impacts on the activity of
on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (the human or animal life, most of them harmful to a
Montreal Protocol). There are other ozone degree. The source of outdoor noise worldwide is
depleting substances, but their ozone depleting mainly caused by machines, transport, and
effects are very small, so they are not controlled propagation systems. Poor urban planning may
by the Montreal Protocol. give rise to noise disintegration or pollution,
side-by-side industrial and residential buildings
d. Greenhouse Gases are gases that trap heat in the can result in noise pollution in the residential
atmosphere. They include: areas. Some of the main sources of noise in
residential areas include loud music, transportation
a.) Carbon Dioxide (CO2) enters the atmosphere (traffic, rail, airplanes, etc.), lawn care
through burning fossil fuels, solid waste, trees and maintenance, construction, electrical generators,
other biological materials. It is removed from the wind turbines, explosions, and people.Documented
atmosphere when it is absorbed by plants as part of problems associated with noise in urban
the biological carbon cycle. environments go back as far as ancient Rome.
Today, the average noise level of 98 decibels (dB)
b.) Methane (CH4) is emitted during the exceeds the WHO value of 50 dB allowed for
production and transport of coal, natural gas, and residential areas. Research suggests that noise
oil. Methane emissions also result from livestock pollution in the United States is the highest in
and other agricultural practices and by the decay of low-income and racial minority neighborhoods,
organic waste in municipal solid waste landfills. and noise pollution associated with household
electricity generators is an emerging environmental
c.) Nitrous oxide is emitted during agricultural and degradation in many developing nations.
industrial activities, combustion of fossil fuels and
solid waste, as well as during treatment of High noise levels can contribute to cardiovascular
wastewater. effects in humans and an increased incidence of
coronary artery disease. In animals, noise can
d. ) Fluorinated gases. Hydrofluorocarbons, increase the risk of death by altering predator or
perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrogen prey detection and avoidance, interfere with
trifluoride are synthetic, powerful greenhouse reproduction and navigation, and contribute to
gases that are emitted from a variety of industrial permanent hearing loss. A substantial amount of
processes. Fluorinated gases are sometimes used as the noise that humans produce occurs in the ocean.
substitutes for stratospheric ozone-depleting Up until recently, most research on noise impacts
substances (e.g., chlorofluorocarbons, has been focused on marine mammals, and to a
hydrochlorofluorocarbons, and halons). These lesser degree, fish. In the past few years, scientists
gases are typically emitted in smaller quantities, have shifted to conducting studies on invertebrates
but because they are potent greenhouse gases, they and their responses to anthropogenic sounds in the
are sometimes referred to as High Global Warming marine environment. This research is essential,
Potential gases ("High GWP gases"). especially considering that invertebrates make up
75% of marine species, and thus compose a large
percentage of ocean food webs. Of the studies that
have been conducted, a sizable variety in families
of invertebrates have been represented in the
research. A variation in the complexity of their
sensory systems exists, which allows scientists to
study a range of characteristics and develop a
better understanding of anthropogenic noise
impacts on living organisms

The Republic Act 8749: Clean Air Act of 1999

The RA 8749 or the Philippine Clean Air Act of

1999 is a comprehensive policy and program for
air quality management in the country. It aims to
achieve and maintain healthy air for all Filipinos.

The act lays down policies to control the spread of

air pollution. It set standards for vehicle owners
and manufacturing plants to follow this law and
impose the appropriate punishments for violators
of the law. It also outlines the different programs to
be implemented by the government in order to
manage and maintain air quality.

—----------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Ecology
• It is the application of knowledge from many • It is the study of the interrelationships and
disciplines to the study and management of the interdependencies of organisms with their
environment. It is an examination of the environment.
conditions, circumstances, and influences that • It is also known as the science of the living
affect life and how life in turn responds. environment. Its primary concerns are population,
• It is an interdisciplinary academic field that community and ecosystem.
integrates physical, biological and information • Population(s) is/are group of individuals of the
sciences (including ecology, biology, physics, same species in a certain area at a given time.
chemistry, plant science, zoology, mineralogy, • Community refers to all the population
oceanography, limnology, soil science, geology occupying this given area.
and physical geography, and atmospheric science)
to the study of the environment, and the solution of Ecosystem or Ecological System
environmental problems. • It is the interaction of the community and the
• It is the application of science and engineering non-living environment.
principles to improve the environment (air, water, • Sometimes, these are referred to as life-support
and/or land resources), to provide healthful water, systems.
air, and land for human habitation and for other • It is a community or group of living organisms
organisms, and to remediate polluted sites. that live in and interact with each other in a
specific environment.
Two Fundamental Objectives of Environmental
Science
•Public Health Protection – to help prevent the
transmission of diseases among human beings.
•Environmental Health Protection – to preserve the
quality of our natural surroundings, including
water, land, air, vegetation and wildlife.

Environment
• Environment is commonly perceived as the
immediate surroundings of an individual. COMPONENTS OF AN ECOSYSTEM
• In a broader context, environment is a complex • An ecosystem has structural and functional
system which deals with a network of living and components.
nonliving entities. These entire make up an • The structure is made up of the living (biotic) and
enormously complex living machine and its proper non-living (abiotic) parts of an ecosystem; while
functioning depends on every human activity. the roles of operation, interactions and
• To appreciate the importance of the environment, inter-relations of the living non-living parts of the
it is necessary that certain fundamental ecological ecosystem are referred to as the function.
concepts be explained: intending to introduce to • Groups of interacting plants and animals form
the public a general knowledge on the basic life populations, and two or more populations in the
cycles and life support systems of the environment. same place at the same place form communities.
• It further intends to create an understanding and • The community forms the living, or biotic, part
appreciation of the earth’s natural processes to of the ecosystem. Energy, minerals, nutrients, and
prevent disturbances that may unduly harm the water form the nonliving or abiotic component.
environment.
Structural Components of an Ecosystem
1. Non-living Components
• Inorganic substances (involved in materials
cycles like nitrogen, carbon, water, and others)
• Organic compounds (carbohydrates, proteins,
humic substances, lipids, etc)
• Climate regime (rainfall, temperature and other
physical factors)

2. Living Components
• Producers - mostly green plants that manufacture
food from simple inorganic substances and light —----------------------------------------------------------
energy
• Consumers (macro-consumers) – animals which
ingest other organisms, particulate organic matter,
plants or other animals
• Decomposers (micro-consumers) – mainly
bacteria and fungi which break down the complex
compounds of dead tissues of plants and animals,
absorbs some of the decomposition products, and
release sample of substances or inorganic nutrients
which are used by producers. These decomposition
products provide energy which maybe stimulating
or inhibiting to other living components of the
ecosystem

Functional Components of an Ecosystem

• Food Chains or Food Webs Energy flow from
green plants to consumer organisms as each
population is eating and being eaten is called a
food chain. Food chains are relatively
uncomplicated, involving energy movement from
one population to another.
• Autotrophs including green plants and few
species of bacteria converts the sun’s energy to
chemically bound energy – food use for life –
through photosynthesis. All other forms of life,
called heterotrophs, depend on autotrophs, either
directly or indirectly for their life energy. Green
plants are then the primary producers.
• Consumers feed on the producers, but not all
consumers feed directly on plants. Animals that
only eat plants are herbivores, others that feed only
on animals are carnivores or flesh eaters.
Omnivores feed on both plants and animals.