Govt, concerned groups push for ‘green’ vehicles

THE proposal to phase out public utility buses which are 10-year-old and above has received a big boost from clean air advocates led by Cabinet officials, lawmakers and various nongovernment organization leaders, as they push for the use of green vehicles to help stop the alarming state of outdoor air pollution in Metro Manila and the rest of the country.

In a manifesto signed during the first Green Transport Forum held at Sulo Hotel in Quezon City, clean air advocates led by Secretary Ramon Paje of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) stressed that the public-private partnership (PPP) program is the most effective means of ensuring active involvement of the citizenry in fighting pollution.

The conveners of the Green Transport Forum expressed grave concern over the alarming and unhealthy levels of pollution caused by transport vehicles plying EDSA and the main roadways of Metro Manila and other highly urbanized cities of the country.

As first step to address the serious threat to public health, they called on the Environment department to declare Metro Manila and other mega cities in the country if warranted, as a “non-attainment area where specific pollutants have already exceeded ambient standards” as mandated by the Clean Air Act.

The group also wants the department to set in motion a PPP project in promoting the expanded use of environment-friendly or green vehicles to contain pollution and prevent further environmental damage and eradicate pollution.

Based on the data provided by the Environment department the volume of pollutants in EDSA was 282 micrograms a normal cubic meter in 2008, or more than 300 percent the normal standard of 90 micrograms.

In Metro Manila, DENR air quality survey showed that the total suspended particulates in the air from motor vehicles stood at 138 micrograms of pollutants a normal cubic meter in 2008 but in during the first six months of 2010 it worsen to 163 micrograms.

Rep. Roger Mercado of Southern Leyte believes that one way to effectively reduce air pollution, starting with EDSA, is through the use of green vehicles, particularly public utility buses.

“It is time to save EDSA and convert it into the country’s first Green highway. We don’t want to see the day when EDSA commuters and pedestrians will have to wear gas masks just to pass through it,” he added.

Earlier, Quezon City Mayor and Chairman of the Special Committee on Transportation Herbert Bautista made public a plan to disallow operators from renewing the registration and franchise of 10-year-old and above bus units.

Bautista said they are now finalizing the proposal that would lower the maximum age of buses that will be allowed to operate in Metro Manila, from 15 years old to 10 years old. –JEFFERSON ANTIPORDA REPORTER, Manila Times