The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has detected a substantial decrease in air pollution at 12 midnight of December 31, 2017 leading to 2018.
This is compared to the same period in 2016 going to 2017.
DENR reports, compared to last year, the air pollution at midnight last Sunday was 59 percent down in Taft Avenue, Manila.
Parañaque City's air pollution also went down by 83 percent.
Pasig City recorded a decrease of 46 percent.
Residents of Navotas City also experienced a reduction in air pollution by more than 80 percent.
DENR Air Quality Management Section Officer-in-Charge Gerry Capulong attributes this development to President Rodrigo Duterte's order regulating the use of pyrotechnics to welcome the New Year.
On June 20, 2017, the President signed Executive Order 28 limiting the use of firecrackers to "community fireworks display."
He also said the activity must be supervised by a trained person authorized by the Philipine National Police (PNP).