Air Pollution in the Philippines Essay

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) (2019), the Philippines has the 3rd highest mortality rate in Asia, averaging 120,000 deaths per year. (Enano, 2019) Air pollution is the presence of harmful chemicals in the air. Examples of these chemicals are called particulate matter which contains ammonia, sodium chloride, and many more (Ambag, 2018). Inhaling air that contains these chemicals can lead to respiratory diseases and even cancer. Here, in the Philippines, most air pollution comes from Metro Manila because of all the registered cars present in this area. Latest data from the regional DENR show that vehicles were responsible for nearly 88 percent of pollutants in the metro in 2018 (Enano, 2019). Now, at present, the number of registered cars is rising because of The Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program, mainly known as the number coding in the Philippines. As the levels of air pollution rise steadily because of the increase in the number of registered cars, a solution to reduce this problem is needed for all the people in Metro Manila. Fortunately, there is a way to reduce air pollution in the metro. The air pollution in Metro Manila can be reduced by using Euro 4 fuel to lessen the emission of smoke from vehicles.

Euro 4 is a globally accepted European emission standard for vehicles that require the use of fuel with significantly lower sulfur and benzene content (Garcia, 2016). Having lower levels of sulfur will lessen the emissions of particles by a vehicle. The fuel is also 10 times better than the former standard emission, Euro 2, having 50 parts per million (ppm) compared to Euro 2’s 500 parts per million. (Ranada, 2014). Euro 4 not only helps the environment but also improves the fuel economy, improves engine performance by cleaning internal engine deposits, and minimizes the effects of ethanol, which corrodes engine internals (Garcia, 2016). By the Philippines switching to Euro 4 fuel, the country will have less air pollution, therefore helping as well in the problem of Climate Change.

The Department of Energy and Natural Resources (DENR) has stated that starting January 1, 2016, all new passenger and light-duty cars introduced to the market should comply with Euro 4 emission limits and must drive on Euro 4 fuel. According to Pabustan (2017), the upgrade from Euro 2 to Euro 4 reduces the toxic sulfur that comes out of the combustion engine by 450 parts per million (ppm), both on diesel and gasoline. Benzene, which is also considered harmful to humans, was also cut off by 4% (Pabustan, 2017). By switching to Euro 4 engines, there will be cleaner emissions because of the Euro 4 compliant fuels. Euro 4 fuel-compliant cars can also run greener and are more efficient due to technological advancements, especially in diesel engines (Summit Storylabs, 2018). Therefore, by switching to Euro 4 cars and Euro 4 fuel, the emissions of air pollution will be decreased.

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But, even with all the advantages of Euro 4 fuel, the price of this certain fuel is higher than the former standard emission, Euro 2, as it requires more refinery processing to lower the toxic sulfur. (Garcia, 2016). This has troubled many people because they think that they will have to pay more for the fuel for their cars. But, even though the fuel is more expensive, gasoline stations have already sold Euro 4 fuel competitively. For example, Petron, one of the most successful fuel-selling companies in the Philippines, started selling Euro 4-compliant fuels last 2014. All of Petron’s Euro 4-compliant fuels are made here in the Philippines. The company, after making Euro 4 fuel the standard emission, assured its customers that Euro 4 fuel will not affect the price in the retail station, even if making Euro 4 fuel is more expensive than making Euro 2 fuel. (Garcia, 2016). This 2019, gas stations are now selling Euro 5-compliant fuels which are even better than Euro 4, so today, there will be even lesser emissions by cars.

Another problem that can pretty much eliminate the advantages of Euro 4 fuel is the never-ending traffic in Metro Manila. Every rush hour, every day, we go through the process of waiting in traffic. If vehicles are kept at a standstill for a long time on the road, more and more emissions will go out of the cars, causing more air pollution, and leading to more respiratory-related illnesses. Even if The Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program or the Clean Air Act exists, the number of registered cars will just keep growing because of the need for people to travel to go to work or school, thus increasing air pollution even more than it was. So, even if our cars are clean, Euro 4 fuel benefits will be nullified by the never-ending traffic present in the metro (Ranada, 2014). Therefore, if there is no solution for the horrific traffic in the metro, then all the laws, and all the changes in the vehicles, will not affect the problem, and the air pollution in the metro will continue to escalate.

In conclusion, the air pollution in Metro Manila can be reduced by the usage of Euro 4 fuel. Euro 4 fuel has less content of sulfur and benzene, lowering the chances of breathing in deadly air. The Department of Energy and Natural Resources has stated that starting January 1, all cars must run on Euro 4 fuel. Though producing the fuel will be more expensive than the former standard emission Euro 2, gas stations like Petron have assured that there will be no change of price for Euro 4 compliant fuels. But, even if our cars are all clean and emit less polluted air, the situation will stay the same if traffic is still a problem. Therefore, to lessen more polluted air, the Department of Energy and Natural Resources should phase out old vehicles that are more than 15 years old, especially smoke-belching jeepneys and buses (Garcia, 2016). These vehicles, considering their age, have Euro 2 engines, therefore having higher emissions than Euro 4 engines. By phasing out these vehicles, the emissions from all cars will be low. But, even if the Department of Energy and Natural Resources does implement such a rule or law, there is yet to be an ultimate solution to the problem of air pollution in Metro Manila and the country.

References

1. Ambag, R. (2018, June 18). How Bad is Air Pollution in the Philippines? Retrieved from https://www.flipscience.ph/health/how-bad-air-pollution-philippines/
2. Enano, J. O. (2019, July). Metro air getting dirtier, and deadlier for commuters. Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1135414/metro-air-getting-dirtier-deadlier-for-commuters/amp.
3. Garcia, L. (2016, February 29). For a greener Philippines: Welcome, Euro 4. Retrieved from https://businessmirror.com.ph/2016/02/29/for-a-greener-philippines-welcome-euro-4/
4. Pabustan, D. (2017, September 22) Euro 4, what does it mean and why do we need it? Retrieved from https://www.autodeal.com.ph/articles/car-features/euro-4-what-does-it-mean-and-why-do-we-need-it
5. Ranada, P. (2014, January 5). The solution to PH air pollution. Retrieved from https://www.rappler.com/move-ph/ispeak/47196-solution-ph-air-pollution
6. Summit Storylabs (2018, January 9). What makes Euro-4 diesel engines different from old ones? Retrieved from https://www.topgear.com.ph/features/feature-articles/what-makes-euro-4-diesel-engines-different-from-older-ones-adv-con