Wednesday, August 30 5:48 PM SGT

Philippines Air, Water Pollution Increasing Alarmingly

In Metro Manila alone, particulate matter smaller than 10 microns levels, which exceeds twice the national air quality standards, is now considered the priority air pollution dilemma.

Sulfur dioxide and total oxidants in air still occasionally exceed the standards, while nitrogen oxides, ozone, and carbon monoxide levels all remain barely within the air quality standard range.

The largest contributor to the total suspended particulates (TSP) and particulate matters in air are fossil fuel combustion in small and medium industrial and commercial installations, re-suspension, and construction activities.

Vehicle exhaust makes up about 12 percent of the total TSP emissions, the largest contributors of which are diesel trucks, buses, and jeepneys.

The quality of nearly half of the country's classified rivers also falls below normal water quality standards. Coastal waters around Manila Bay are extremely polluted and deteriorating further due to illegal fishing and dumping practises, bad sewerage, industrial toxins and overpopulation.

According to the World Bank (WB) study on the Philippine environment, while water demand is increasing rapidly in the country, fragmented water management, weak law enforcement and poor planning has affected its supply, leading to the declaration in 1995 of a national water crisis.

The WB added that coastal areas in the country are deteriorating due to heavy siltation, pollution, overfishing, and destructive fishing techniques.

The study further stated that air pollution in other urban areas of the country is becoming a problem.

The WB cited as an example that from 1997-1999 at the main road and central business district in Baguio City, TSP levels ranged from fair to poor. In the Visayas, from 1995-1999, TSP levels are much higher than the air quality standard.

The deterioration of air quality in the country most especially in Metro Manila has adverse impacts on public health.

An epidemiological study conducted by the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Public Health, showed that the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is 32.5 percent among jeepney drivers, 16.4 percent among air conditioned bus drivers, and 13.8 percent among commuters.

The study further stated that up to 55 percent of the total burden of bronchitis was found to be attributable to pollution in urban and rural areas of the country.

On the other hand, the WB said that water pollution in Metro Manila is most severe where all surface waters, except for upper portions of the Marikina River, can be considered biologically dead during dry months.

This is due to heavy concentration of population and industrial activity in the area and an inadequate sewage treatment system, which services only about eight percent of over nine million residents in Metro Manila.

While wastewater is not used in recharging aquifers or for irrigation, it is instead discharged directly into the Manila Bay and other rivers, which contributed to heavy siltation.

Water quality in other four rivers in the Metro Manila region has also deteriorated over time, with increasing biological oxygen demand (BOD) and decreasing dissolved oxygen (DO) levels.

Indiscriminate dumping of raw sewage has been identified as the main cause of its degradation.

While the country probably progressed in finding solution to other related environmental problems, improving the air and water quality standards remain a distant dream.

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