BAGUIO CITY—The Cordillera office of the Environmental Management Bureau said the air quality in the Baguio-La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay (Blistt) area remains good to fair during the third quarter of 2016 amid the increasing volume of vehicles and rapid urbanization there.
In a report submitted to Mayor Mauricio Domogan, Bureau chief for Clearance and Permitting Division engineer Nestor Donaal said there were 10 particulate matter monitoring stations monitored during the third quarter using the manual method for sampling at the established stations within Blistt airshed.
He pointed out all results obtained from the sampling stations were within the national ambient air quality guidelines value which is 150 micrograms per cubic meter for suspended particulate matter.
Results from eight sampling stations were within the good air quality index range—from 0-54 micrograms per cubic meter while results from two sampling stations, in Lower Session Road Plaza Garden in Baguio City and Km. 6 in La Trinidad, Benguet—were within the fair air quality index range, from 55-154 micrograms per cubic meter.
Donaal said weather conditions during the reckoning period were generally rainy or there was intermittent rain shower, fair and cloudy during the 24-hour sampling periods in the areas.
Donaal claimed nine sampling stations showed a decrease of suspended particulate matter levels compared to the latest results from the similar stations during the second quarter of this year.
On the other hand, one sampling station showed increase in suspended particulate matter level compared with the obtained results from the second quarter.
Donaal pointed out construction activities were noted as significant sources of particulates on the established sampling stations previously put in place to monitor the air quality in the Blistt air shed pursuant to the provisions of the Philippine Clean Air Act.
The report also noted excavation activities within the Itogon town hall compound that contributed to the air quality conditions during the time of sampling.
But fair weather conditions, especially intermittent rains, helped wash down suspended particulates in the atmosphere, officials said.
