Health experts raised alarm on Wednesday over the worsening air pollution in Metro Manila, saying it has escalated from an environmental issue into a serious public health emergency.
Citing the State of Global Air 2024 report, the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health (ASMPH) said poor air quality remains the leading environmental threat to human health worldwide, responsible for 8.1 million deaths in 2021 alone.
Fine particulate matter such as PM2.5—small enough to penetrate the lungs and bloodstream—is linked to diseases including asthma, heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
“Air pollution is the leading cause of disease and early death worldwide, even more than high blood pressure or smoking, and yet, we don’t have enough publicly available data to protect the populations most at risk,” said Dr. Annelle Raphayette Chua, who leads the study at the ASMPH Center for Research and Innovation (ACRI).
To address this, a coalition of academic institutions and technology partners under the banner Breathe Metro Manila launched a campaign to improve real-time air quality monitoring across the region. The group is advocating for data-driven solutions to mitigate health risks and inform policy.
Their efforts align with the National Environmental Health Action Plan (NEHAP) 2030, which calls for stronger environmental health protections.
“You cannot manage what you cannot measure,” said Dr. James Bernard Simpas, head of the Air Quality Dynamics Laboratory at the Manila Observatory.
“Long-term measurements illustrate the effectiveness of AQ-relevant policy decisions. Understanding the major sources of air pollution helps direct air pollution mitigation and control strategies,” he added.
Real-time monitoring is already influencing policy.
In Quezon City, local officials recently revised class suspension guidelines to account for real-time air quality readings. Classes are now automatically canceled when air quality reaches “very unhealthy” or “emergency” levels based on data from over 40 monitoring stations.
The push is being supported by Ateneo BUILD (Business Insights Laboratory for Development), which serves as the coalition’s operational hub.
“Across Ateneo are groups with deep, world-class expertise: in environmental science, public health, innovation, and more. But to be appreciated and engaged by partners outside the university, these strengths often need a bridge. That’s where BUILD comes in,” said Joseph Benjamin Ilagan, Director of Ateneo BUILD.
“Making air quality data public is a milestone. But more important is turning that visibility into shared decisions, and decisions into systems that improve how we protect our communities,” he added.
Meanwhile, environmental tech firm Clarity Movement is rolling out its Node-S Air Sensor—a self-powered device that tracks particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide.
The sensor is part of what Clarity calls “Air Quality Monitoring 2.0,” which emphasizes smarter systems, real-time insights, and multi-sector coordination.
“Air quality data is only powerful when it’s real-time, localized, and actionable,” said Engr. Ethel Garcia, Regional Account Manager for SEA and Oceania, Clarity Movement.
“With smarter sensors and stronger partnerships, we’re helping Metro Manila turn invisible threats into visible solutions,” she continued.
As pollution continues to threaten public health, Breathe Metro Manila is urging local governments, businesses, schools, and civic groups to support efforts to improve air quality. With cross-sector collaboration, the group aims to convert data into meaningful interventions and long-term solutions.
