Metro Manila air quality better in first half of 2023

MANILA, Philippines — Better air quality was observed in the first half of the year in Metro Manila, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

The DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) said that there was a general improvement in air quality, based on the amount of particulate matter in the atmosphere from January to June.

The EMB said that it recorded an average of 40 micrograms per normal cubic meter for particulate matter 10 in Metro Manila. This is below the 43 ug/ncm for PM10 posted in the same period in 2022.

The DENR explained that PM10 are microscopic matter suspended in the air that are 10 micrometers or smaller, such as dust from paved and unpaved roadways.

DENR Assistant Secretary and EMB director Gilbert Gonzales said the volume of air pollutants in Metro Manila has been on the decline in the past decade.

Pollutants peaked as high as 70 ug/ncm in 2012, which is well beyond the annual guideline value of 60 ug/ncm.

“The improvement in air quality can be attributed to a number of factors such as changes in fuel emission standards for motor vehicles, increased use of bio-fuels and tighter monitoring of emissions from factories and other industrial facilities,” Gonzales said.

Still, there were bouts of hazy conditions that smothered parts of Metro Manila in September.

Experts pointed to emissions from heavy vehicular traffic that coincided with a natural phenomenon called thermal inversion, which visibly trapped particulate matter as it suppresses convection.

Gonzales said that motor vehicles remain the biggest contributor of air pollutants and he encouraged the public to promote eco-friendly transportation methods.

Despite better averages in Metro Manila, the nationwide average was marginally higher as the amount of PM10 was at 34 ug/ncm for the first six months of 2023 compared to 29ug/ncm in 2022.

As for levels of PM2.5, which are particles that are 2.5 micrometers or smaller and can enter the lungs and the bloodstream, Metro Manila averaged 20 ug/ncm this year compared to 23 ug/ncm in the same period in 2022.