JORDAN, Guimaras – As it celebrates the National Clean Air Month, the provincial government of Guimaras is strengthening initiatives to maintain the island’s good air quality.
A memorandum of agreement (MOA) was signed between the provincial government represented by Gov. Samuel Gumarin and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office (DENR) – Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) represented by Director Ramar Niel Pascua.
Both parties will collaborate to address environmental issues and concerns with special consideration on the mobile sources of air pollution in the province.
“What we have is free air, libre, wala sang bayad. Pero may responsibilidad kita nga i-maintain ini,” said Gumarin.
According to the governor, the major causes of air pollution in Guimaras are motor vehicles.
“Daku ang pagsaka sang numero sang mga salakyan diri sa Guimaras,” said Gumarin.
To monitor air quality, EMB shall lend the provincial government an equipment (opacimeter).
It will also provide technical assistance in both operation of the equipment and conduct of any related activities.
Also in line with the MOA, Gumarin issued Executive Order No.72 creating the Guimaras Anti-Smoke Belching Unit (ASBU).
ASBU is composed of two major teams.
The enforcement team led by Ma Asuncion Trespeses, acting chief of the Land Transportation Office (LTO-Guimaras), will be responsible for roadside inspection and apprehension of vehicles violating emission standards under Republic Act (RA) No. 8749 (Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999).
The information, education and campaign team, on the other hand, is tasked to institute an education campaign on the harmful impacts of gas emissions.
It will also give technological options available to prevent smoke belching; and advocate or encourage self-regulation among stakeholders.
The education campaign team is led by Leonard Pasiderio, officer-in-charge of the Guimaras Environment and Natural Resources Office.
“Isa sa mga targets sang provincial government amo nga mapasiguro nga ang aton hangin preska, meaning ang pollution level sa isla manubo or within the tolerable limits,” said Pasiderio./PN
