THE Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the City of San Fernando has beefed up efforts in the implementation of the clean air program to ensure that the air quality in Central Luzon meets the National Air Quality Guidelines for Criteria Pollutant for a safer and healthier environment.
The DENR-EMB regional office reported that strict monitoring of the compliance of firms and industries has been done in the region.
Nine air quality monitoring stations are operational in Central Luzon. These are installed in Clark and City of San Fernando in Pampanga, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority in Zambales, and Balanga City in Bataan.
In addition, the new EMB building in Diosdado Macapagal Government Center in Maimpis, City of San Fernando, Pampanga houses the Bureau's operation center for real-time monitoring of air quality in the region.
The environment bureau has established this Air Quality Monitoring Network (AQMN) Center using a uniform Data Acquisition and Handling System (DAHS), which shall act as repository of industrial emissions of firms required to install Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (Cems) and Continuous Opacity Monitoring Systems (Coms).
The DAHS, which is ready to accept data from CEMS, can accommodate a maximum capacity of 999 stations.
To date, DENR-EMB records show that five firms have been connected to the Environmental Data Quality Monitoring Center, where real-time transmission of Cems data and online alerts generation are done.
The Bureau assured the public that Motor Vehicle Emission Management Program, Industrial Emission Management Program and Roadside Ambient and General Ambient Air Monitoring is strictly enforced to effectively manage major sources of air emission, which include mobile, stationary, and area sources.