Tags: General News, Government Offices
By Anna Valmero
QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA – An SMS campaign that encourages motorists and passengers to report smoke belchers has helped improved air quality in Metro Manila, according to the government.
The number of total suspended air particulate dropped by 32 percent to only 112 microgram per cubic meter in November last year, down from the 166 microgram per cubic meter recorded in the same period a year before, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB)
The improvement may be attributed to public awareness and participation in the campaign, said Ma. Victoria Abrera, policy and planning division chief of the DENR_EMB
A 2011 study by the Congressional Commission on Science Technology, and Engineering (COMSTE) revealed that lead exposure due to air pollution causes anemia, kidney problems and infertility.
Exposure to heavy metal lead makes a person prone to nervous system dysfunction and increased level of miscarriages in females.
“The DENR has instituted several measures but what really helped us in the campaign was TXT Usok (project),” Abrera said.
The campaign helped confiscate over 7,700 license plates of smoke-belching vehicles. Citizens have reported 83,653 cases of smoke-belchers by phone, fax, email and text messages since June 2002, when the project started.
TXT Usok was a joint project of Land Transportation Office and the Bantay Kalikasan-Bantay Usok of ABS-CBN to implement the Clean Air Act in Metro Manila.
To join report smoke belchers, text USOK<space>PlatenumberLocation to 700-3367 for Smart subscribers.
Motorcycles are dubbed as major contributors to air pollution so the EMB instituted stricter motorcycle modification standards as part of the campaign.
EMB has deployed more anti-smoke belching unit teams all over the metropolis, to man the control and apprehension of smoke belchers.
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