Wednesday, October 04, 2006 Traffic plan to solve air pollution sought
CLEAN air advocates have called on the City Government to craft a traffic system that focuses on air pollution reduction.
Energy for Clean Air (ECA) project coordinator Edna Tabanda said that while the group is supportive of the planned closure of Session Road to vehicular traffic, she admitted that this is not the ultimate solution to curb air pollution in Baguio.
Tabanda said a comprehensive traffic management system focusing not only on easing traffic congestion, parking system and road networks, could contribute to reaching the standard ambient air quality level prescribed by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).
The EMB regional office classified as "fair" the air quality at the central business district (CBD).
From January to August this year, air quality level was at 81-200 micrograms of total suspended particulates (TSP) per unit. The standard level is 132-208 mcg. This data, however, does not include an assessment of pollutants such as articulate matters, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, hydrocarbon, organic gases, volatile organic compounds and sulfur that are usually emitted by motor vehicles.
Susan Nisperos-Nool of the EMB Pollution Control Division said the present equipment used by the bureau is limited to TSP measurement only.
Nool said a new equipment worth P10 million is ready for use and installation but the City Government has yet to comment on the matter after they were requested by the EMB to provide a site on where to install the equipment and to shoulder the expenses for the electricity.
Called a telemetric analyzer, the equipment detects not just TSP but other pollutants present in the atmosphere. (RO)
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