Of the eleven stations in Metro Manila, Makati had the highest 24-hour average Total Suspended Particulate (TSP) concentration at 469 micrograms per normal cubic meter. This exceeded the standard by 50 percent and is considered bad for the health. The occurrence of a very unhealthy index at the Valenzuela and Araneta Stations has been lessened. All other stations registered significantly low 24-hour average concentrations and were well within the standards. On the other hand, lead level in ambient air was well within standards, too. Studies, however, showed that lead has serious adverse effects on one's health even at a low concentration. It was hoped that 1998 the degree of concentration of lead in ambient air can be cut down further by lowering the lead content of gasoline from 0.16 g/l to 0.10g/l. EO 446, which mandates the use of unleaded gasoline in Metro Manila in the year 2000 and other parts of the country in 2001, was signed by President Fidel V. Ramos last September 26, 1997.
b. Water Quality Monitoring. Monitoring of water quality is equally important. Five hundred thirty-eight (538) water sampling stations were regularly monitored to know the quality of water bodies and one-hundred-thirteen (113) additional sampling stations in critical river systems were established. Except for a few, the BOD level in these stations had been maintained according to the criteria for which these water bodies were classified, to wit class "B", "D" and mostly "C". In almost all stations in San Juan River and Paranaque River at NCR, the BOD level exceeded the criteria from their former "C" classification.
a. Air Quality Improvement. Since air pollution was considered one of the key environmental problems of the country, air quality improvement has been chosen as one of the main projects for the year.
In the implementation of the Anti Smoke Belching Campaign program, a multi-sectoral approach has been adopted in which government agencies, LGUs, the civil society and business sector were brought together into a plan dubbed “Project Blue Sky,” which led to voluntary actions from many organizations. The DENR, for instance, received a smoke-meter donated by the Philippine Shell Company for use in voluntary testing activities. In connection with this, the final draft of the Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations of PD 1181 (Vehicular Emission Program) ensued.
In addressing air pollution problems, industries seen as major sources of pollution have been required to purchase on-line devices to monitor compliance to existing standards.
One hundred thirty-six (136) existing air sampling stations nationwide had been monitored regularly to obtain an up-to-date information on ambient air quality. As areas become highly urbanized and industrialized, the installation of new sampling stations became necessary. Thirty-two (32) new ones brought the total number of sampling stations to 168.
