The Quezon City Government has installed 20 additional air quality sensors in strategic areas, enabling the city to have the largest and most extensive air quality monitoring network in the Philippines.

Currently, the city has 40 non-reference air quality monitoring sensors and one reference station that measures pollutants such as particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) which comes from the emissions of cars, trucks, and industrial facilities. Data gathered from these sensors are now being used as basis for policy interventions and project implementation. 

Studies show that prolonged exposure to PM 2.5  affects the residents’ health as the particles travel deeply into the lungs and blood streams, as well as worsen conditions like asthma and heart disease.

“This network provides us with real-time data on air quality that enable us to make informed decisions to uphold clean air standards and protect the health and well-being of QCitizens,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

Each air quality equipment is deployed in locations that cover various classifications such as  schools, roadside, hospitals, and churches, and along industrial, commercial, and residential areas.

The deployment of the air quality sensors is in line with the city’s Air Quality Management Plan, which is part of QC’s commitment to the C40 Clean Air Cities accelerator.

“Guided by the city’s air quality management plan, which identifies mobile sources as the primary contributor to air pollutants based on the city’s Emission Inventory, we are actively pursuing measures to meet the more stringent air quality guideline values set forth by the World Health Organization. These efforts involve evidence-based policy interventions and projects aimed at achieving even better air quality for our constituents,” the mayor added.

To provide residents with real-time data on air quality, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) with cautionary statements relative to health effects is published every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the Quezon City Government’s official social media accounts and website. These are also posted in the city’s Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department (CCESD) Facebook page.

Moving forward, the city is also set to add two additional reference stations to further strengthen the city’s air quality network.

A Call for QC Advocates for Cleaner Air campaign has also been launched to encourage QCitizens to report any form of activity that can contribute to poor air quality within their area.

A reporting system was also established involving personnel from CCESD, the Traffic and Transport Management Department (TTMD), and barangays to ensure timely monitoring and immediate checking of prevailing conditions, particularly when there are slight or abnormal peaks in the sensor’s readings. 

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