The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) recently launched Adopt a Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS), and the Continuous Emission Monitoring System/ Continuous Opacity Monitoring System (CEMS/COMS) Test Connection thru Uniform Data Acquisition and Handling System to strengthen the capacity of EMB in terms of air quality monitoring.

According to EMB Director, Engr. William P. Cuñado, the programs launched by EMB will enhance capacities of EMB technical personnel to monitor ambient air quality as well as the compliance of industries to the Clean Air Act.

“We will be focusing on monitoring air quality in major urban areas and Highly Urbanized Cities within the designated airsheds in the country. The results of the monitoring activities will be used as basis for the designation of airsheds as attainment or non-attainment areas,” Cuñado said.

Attainment areas are defined as areas in compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Guidelines while non-attainment areas are areas that do not meet the prescribed guideline values.

Held last October 20, 2021, the EMB Central Office spearheaded the 4th virtual coordination meeting with the EMB Regional Offices to discuss the Implementation of the Adopt a Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS) and CEMS/COMS Test Connection thru Uniform Data Acquisition and Handling System (DAHS) nationwide via Microsoft Teams.

According to Air Quality Management Section Chief, Engr. Jundy del Socorro, the meeting discussed various updates on actions undertaken to determine potential donors and confirm their participation in the program. Regional offices also provided updates on the status of existing air quality monitoring stations as well as the timeline for the test connection allowing industries to connect to the EMB Data Acquisition and Handling System.

Del Socorro added that to date, a total of 13 coal fired power plants and 11 cement plants were connected to the EMB DAHS.

Meanwhile, a total of 35 confirmed donors of the Adopt a Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station were listed by the EMB.