BAGUIO CITY – Air in the city is breathable, tests conducted by the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPLMO), Wastewater, Water Ambient Air Management Division (WWAMD) proves.
As reported by WWAMD head Engr. Moises Lozano during the monthly Alay Sa Kalinisan last week, air monitored last September at the Veterans’ Park along Harrison road, and Happy Homes, Old Lucban barangay hall are deemed “Fair.”
Results for air monitoring at the Social Welfare and Development Office grounds is even better as it is rated, “good,” Lozano also reported, considering that it is within the central business district area.
Air monitoring readings are done in various areas in the city to dispel doubts on its “breathability” due to other reports.
In August, aerial particulate materials (PM) machine readings near the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) and the University of the Philippines Baguio campus “Fair.”
“Good” and “Fair” readings pose no restriction for healthy or unhealthy individuals’ exposure outside.
Unhealthy air would limit persons with respiratory diseases’ exposure as it may trigger attacks.
Other ratings are “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” “very unhealthy,” “acutely unhealthy,” wherein individuals with respiratory problems are advised to stay indoors or away from specific areas, and “emergency,” where even healthy individuals should stay indoors.
Also noted by the ASK chair and presiding officer Mayor Mauricio Domogan during the ASK meeting, is the Roadside Inspection, Testing and Monitoring Team (RITMT) report for September where 44 operations were conducted in several areas. There were 651 vehicles flagged, 610 were tested where 341 (56%) failed, and 269 (44) passed. Other vehicles were not tested, and some were warned.
The RITM Team also caught and had tested some government vehicles, some from other local government units./Julie G. Fianza
