The topic of Atmospheric Particulate Matter was an interesting one for us here in the Philippines.  Why?  It's because many Filipinos and foreigners residing in the Metro Manila area suffer from respiratory diseases.  In the department stores and drugstores it is pretty common to see masks being sold.  I know this is the case in Beijing, Tokyo or Vietnam, but Manila? I did not think we would get to the point where people would have to wear masks due to air pollution.

The Department of Health in a study done with the World Health Organization shows that air pollution levels in Metro Manila is way over the tolerable limits set by international standards.  The worst victims of such pollution are children. More and more kids are suffering from asthma and other respiratory diseases. 

In some studies, it was found that vehicle emissions contributes to about 70% of air pollution specially in the metropolitan areas.  Recently, the government is looking to phase out all jeepneys that are 15 years and older because of the pollution they contribute. Jeepneys are among the most common form of public transportation all over the country.  Since they are fueled by diesel and old and not properly maintained, these vehicles add so much to air pollution.  But the problem is that jeepney drivers associations are against this new ruling.  The government will have to figure out a way of providing less polluting mass transportation for the public like e-jeepneys and light rail transits or those that are charged with electricity.

All the government agencies need to work together to lessen pollution.  The Department of Environment & Natural Resources, Department of Health, Department of Energy, Department of Transportation and other departments need to not only come up with the laws but to enforce them too. 

One thing that can be done is to move industrial factories away from the metro areas.  Those factories that spew out so much black smoke with particulates should not be close to residential areas.  They can also find ways to remove this matter before it is released into the air.  Government can also utilize more solar, wind and water energy or renewable clean energy instead of energy from fossil fuels.  Maybe in one way it is good that the Philippines is ahit by a long rainy and typhoo n season because everytime it rains, the air is naturally cleared for a few days.