NAMRIA hosted the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) launching of the real-time Air Quality Monitoring System (AQMS) with European Union (EU) support at the NAMRIA Lecture Hall last 01 June 2017. The real-time Air Quality Monitoring System will monitor the air quality of the Metro Manila Airshed. The project is part of the SWITCH-Asia Programme by the EU, which promotes "Sustainable Consumption and Production” (SCP) for economic prosperity and help reduce poverty in Asia. It encourages sustainable growth with low environmental impact from industries and consumers. 

 

In his welcome remarks, DENR Assistant Secretary for Foreign Assisted and Special Projects Rommel R. Abesamis stated that the EU has been supporting the implementation of the Philippine Clean Air Act through the EU-funded SWITCH-Asia Programme. He thanked the EU-SWITCH Asia Policy Support Component (PSC) Philippines for providing technical assistance and expertise to support the generation of the real-time data on air quality for the Metro Manila Airshed. This is accomplished by developing methodologies, real-time data transmission approaches and software, and providing real-time data from the existing quality monitoring stations of DENR in strategic areas in Metro Manila. As the project ends on 30 June 2017, he acknowledged the strong partnership and collaboration with the EU-SWITCH PSC that came to the point where it forwarded the quest of improving the air quality through improved rules and regulations. 

 

 

EU Ambassador Franz Jessen said that the EU is proud to support the Philippines on the implementation of the Clean Air Act. Ambassador Jessen took time to explain the current situation of air pollution; and the connection between air quality and economic progress.  He stated that despite continued efforts to reduce emissions of harmful air pollutants, air pollution remains a worldwide concern. Improving air quality while keeping the climate hospitable is a complex process which requires a thorough understanding of what is causing air pollution and climate change, what can be done to tackle both, and a prioritization of measures to preserve a life-friendly atmosphere everywhere on earth. He stressed that environmental degradation including climate change can upset economic progress. This means that economic development should go hand and hand with protection of the environment, the air we breathe, and the climate in general. Environmental sustainability including a stable climate is indispensable to sustainable development particularly to the poorest members of the society.

 

EU Ambassador Jessen during his speech

 

Inside of the AQMS apparatus as EU-SWITCH PSC  Senior Expert Dr. Juegen Bischo (first from left)

demonstrates some of its features

 

Present in the event were NAMRIA Administrator Peter N. Tiangco, Deputy Administrator Jose C. Cabanayan, Jr., and other NAMRIA and EU-SWITCH PSC officers and personnel. Members of different media and television stations were also present during the event.

 

Administrator Tiangco during the media briefing