The Department of Environment and Natural Resources- Environmental Management Bureau spearheaded the conduct of the Stakeholder Consultation Meeting for the Updating of the Integrated Air Quality Improvement Framework- National Air Quality Control Action Plan (IAQIF-NAQCAP) from January 24 to 26, 2024, in Makati City.

 

The consultation meeting is a continuation of the Interagency Workshop on Updating the IAQIF-NAQCAP, which was held on November 13, 2023, as a pre-event of the Better Air Quality Conference 2023. Attendees were representatives from the EMB Central and Regional Offices, national government agencies including the Departments of Transportation, Energy, Health, Science and Technology, Climate Change Commission, and private sector representatives from Clean Air Asia, Partnership for Clean Air, and Manila Observatory, among others.

 

According to EMB Director and Concurrent Assistant Secretary for Field Operations Engr. Gilbert C. Gonzales, the consultation meeting aimed to assess the implementation of the current framework, as mandated by DENR Administrative Order 2000-82 and RA 8749, or the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999.

 

“The IAQIF-NAQCAP direct government agencies to formulate strategies in reducing emissions and achieving cleaner air, through partnership and coordination within the government and other sectors,” Asec. Gonzales said.

 

Engr. Jundy. T del Socorro, Chief of the EMB’s Air Quality Management Section, presented the background on updating the Integrated Air Quality Improvement Framework, including a timeline of related policies and proposed methodologies. Also included in Engr. del Socorro’s presentations included Mass Emission Rate Standards (MERS), Stationary, Mobile, and Area Sources management, and proposed Euro 5 Emission and Fuel Standards Implementation.

 

Meanwhile, AQMS staff facilitated the presentation of and open discussions on the Draft Action Plan, where the participants from the different sectors could ask questions and share their input. Likewise, the attendees from the Regional Offices participated in a series of workshops on identifying issues and gaps in the implementation of the current Action Plan and a review and development of a draft Action Plan specific to their respective regions.

 

Copies of the Draft Action Plan were sent to the participants for their review, comments, and inputs, which will be considered in the revision of the NAQCAP, in line with the development of the final 10-Year Air Quality Roadmap by the EMB.