A call from Coalition of Clean Air Advocates of the
Philippines.
Prior to the much awaited State of the Nation Address by His
Excellency President Benigno Aquino this coming July 27, 2015, a parody entitled
State of the Nation’s Air was held last July 25 at the Bahay Ng Alumni in
University Of The Philippines-Diliman Campus.
Organized by Coalition of Clean Air Advocates of the
Philippines (CCAAP) they aim to inform everyone the real condition and
situation of the air we breathe in the country, that our Government mislook and
hide from its citizen. They want everyone to know that our Government has
funding for it and some measures that need to be properly implemented. This
details usually are not mention in the yearly SONA of the President, and he
himself are aware of it.
“The event is a Kontra-SONA, because in his past speeches he
didn’t mention about Clean Air act, but if you’re going to check and research
his past interviews and videos it was revealed that he is aware about it, he
even go to Land Transportotation Office to check the pollution index but no
follow up after that.” Said by Herminio Buerano, Jr, the President and founding
member of CCAAP.
Buerano stress that the Philippine Government allotted P6.3
billion for Clean Air Act, but this was not used, the LTO along with Department
of Transportation and Communication and Department of Trade and Industry should
be implementing some rules, but they refuse to do so.
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| Herminio Buerano, Ji. CCAAP President |
“We want everyone to discuss and talk that Air Pollution in
the Philippines is not a joke, 90
micrograms per cubic meter is the standard set by World Health Organization. In
Hongkong when they reach 110 in reading, they advise their school children not
to go to school, and tell them to wear mask. Here in Manila, no advisory at all
to think the reading sometimes reaches 145." Buerano added.
The said reading are the so called total suspended particulates
or solid matter that we didn’t see in the air, and if we breathe that it goes
to our blood stream that become cause of different illnesses. But
Buerano specifically mention that the main reason we have polluted air, is
because we have corrupt officials and a reluctant Government who ignore the
datas and deny resolution to the issue. And
also our fellow men who deny testing methods needed to check their motor
vehicles. As per Department of Environment and Natural Resources records, 80%
of air pollutants are coming from motor vehicles while 20% is from factories
and power plants.
The half day congress is mostly attended by CCAAP members
ranging from different Non-Government Organizations in the country, Franciscan
friars, health practitioner’s, and from
different Medical organizations and Environment advocates.
CCAAP is form in 2009 mostly from emission testing centers
who are sick and tired of some anomalies happening in having no appearance
testing of vehicles because of money, they also file some class suit to some
officials of LTO who they believe are behind it. They have now more than a 100
organization members all over the country.
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