The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is pushing for stricter emission controls to sustain air quality improvement recorded in 2024.
Citing a report by its Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), the DENR revealed significant reductions in harmful particulate matter levels nationwide in 2024.
“This progress is attributed to sustained efforts to reduce vehicular emissions, complemented by strengthened industrial emission controls and enhanced air quality monitoring under the midterm administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.,” the DENR said.
The agency underscored the need for further regulatory action to sustain the gains.
The EMB monitoring report, released to the public, on Monday, August 18, showed that concentrations of Particulate Matter 10 (PM10) in Metro Manila dropped by 17.4 percent, from 46 micrograms per normal cubic meter (µg/ncm) in 2016 to 38 µg/ncm in 2024.
PM10 levels fell by 28.2 percent across the country, averaging 28 µg/ncm, way below the 60 µg/ncm ceiling set under the national air quality guideline, the report showed.
Meanwhile, finer pollutants, known as PM2.5, also showed major declines.
A 37.6-percent decline in PM2.5 was recorded in Metro Manila, from 27 µg/ncm in 2016 to 16.86 µg/ncm in 2024.
Nationwide levels dropped from 20 µg/ncm to 16 µg/ncm, which is below the 25 µg/ncm allowable limit, during the same period.
The DENR-EMB said 65 percent, or 22 out of 34 highly urbanized and major cities, met the national air quality guideline values in 2024, surpassing the government’s 62-percent target.
Particulate matter, or PM, refers to tiny solid or liquid particles in the air that can be harmful when inhaled, posing serious health risks to people.
PM10 are particles 10 micrometers or smaller such as dust, smoke and soot, that can reach the lungs.
PM2.5, or ultrafine particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller, are more dangerous because they can penetrate deeper into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream.
