Senator Cynthia Villar on Friday issued a warning raised by experts about a possible spike in air pollution level, which went down after the entire Metro Manila and other places in the country was placed under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus.
She noted that experts are already worried that air pollution levels might increase once the ECQ is lifted on May 15.
“So we should keep this positive momentum going. It should be part of the “new normal” that we are talking about. We should put in place post-lockdown environmental safeguards and strategies,” said Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources.
Aside from health and hygiene, Villar noted that a clean and green environment also plays a crucial role in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and minimizing its effects.
For a start, Villar said the government can pursue initiatives to improve air quality. She said emissions of a variety of gases related to energy and transport have been significantly reduced due to limited economic activity and mobility of people.
Before the ECQ, she said the Philippines ranked 57th out of 98 most polluted countries in the world in 2019 based on the IQAir AirVisual’s list.
She said the level of concentrations of particulate matter called PM2.5 averaged 17.6 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3) in the country last year, an increase from 14.6μg/m3 in 2018. These exceeded the World Health Organization’s (WHO) safety limit of 10 μg/m3.
During the first week of the lockdown, PM2.5 concentration level went down to 7.1 ug/m3 from 20 ug/m3.
PM2.5 is defined as particulate matter that is 2.5 micrometers or smaller in diameter. These particles, a mix of soot, smoke, metals, chemicals, dust and other elements, can easily be breathed in and are associated with respiratory illnesses.
Villar also said there are studies that link air pollution level to higher risks to contracting coronavirus.
A study by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health showed that higher levels of PM2.5 were associated with higher death rates from the Covid-19 disease. An increase of only one gram per cubic meter can cause an equivalent 15% increase in the COVID-19 death rate.
The senator also said she intends to review the implementation of the Clean Air Law or Republic Act 8749 passed in 1999. It includes among its provisions, improving gasoline quality by reducing the level of aromatics, and requiring factories to install anti-air pollution devices. “The law was passed 21 years ago, just like other old laws, it needs to be reviewed, some of its provisions may need amending or updating,” she said.