The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), conducted the Airshed Capacity Building in Emission Inventory and Air Quality Monitoring Training Workshop from September 26-30, 2022 in Tagaytay City.
Pursuant to Section 8 (Air Quality Control Action Plan) of Republic Act No. 8749, or the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999, the designation of airsheds shall be on the basis of areas with similar climate, meteorology and topology which affect the interchange and diffusion of pollutants in the atmosphere, or areas which share a common interest or face similar development programs, prospects or problems. This should be with the use of eco-profiling techniques and undertaking scientific studies.
In line with this, the training capacitated selected technical staff from EMB Regional Offices on the conduct of emission inventory, air dispersion modeling and air quality monitoring, as studies on the interchange and diffusion of pollutants in every airshed are being developed.
The Chief of the EMB – Environmental Quality Management Division (EQMD), Engr. Marcelino N. Rivera, Jr., welcomed the participants from different EMB Regional Offices and emphasized the enhancement of the Bureau’s capacity through the said training. In addition, Engr. Rivera enjoined the participants to provide comments and inputs on the Online Permitting and Monitoring System for Permit to Operate version 3 – Manual of Air Pollution Source Installation/Equipment, Online Test Plan and Stack Sampling System and Online Emission Inventory Databank version 2, as these platforms that are being developed were also presented.
While the EMB Assistant Director, Engr. Vizminda A. Osorio, delivered the opening remarks and stated the background in leading the conduct of the training and expectations that all the learnings, skills, and knowledge gained to be utilized upon returning to the respective regional offices of the participants.
The Chief of the EMB – EQMD – Air Quality Management Section (AQMS), Engr. Jundy T. Del Socorro, provided the participants with the training agenda such as the presentations on the following:
- airshed status and designation activities and guidelines for existing and new airsheds
- guidelines on the Air Quality Management Fund (AQMF) process and financial mechanism,
- status of regional data capture, Adopt-an-Ambient Air Quality Monitoring station, siting criteria and Data Acquisition and Handling System (DAHS) connection
- regional airshed status and updates on the utilization of AQMF, (5) guidelines on data handling and siting criteria
- airshed emissions inventory for stationary, mobile, and area sources
- overview of meteorology and airshed dispersion modeling
The training agenda also includes consultations on the following:
- Online Permitting and Monitoring System for Permit to Operate version 3 – Manual of Air Pollution Source Installation/Equipment
- Online Test Plan and Stack Sampling System
- Online Emission Inventory Databank version 2
Ms. Wyona Kay C. Rativo, Engineer II from the AQMS, presented the airshed status and designation activities and Guidelines for Existing and New Airsheds, such as the DENR Memorandum Circular No. 013, Series of 2005 (DMC 2005-013), or the Guidelines for the Designation of Attainment and Non-attainment Areas in an Airshed, and the DENR Memorandum Circular No. 03, Series of 2002 (DMC 2002-03), or the Interim Guidelines for the Designation of an Airshed.
Ms. Mariam F. Salemizadeh, Environmental Management Specialist II from the AQMS, discussed the guidelines on the AQMF Process and Financial Mechanism, including the overview of the AQMF, summary of collections and deposit, Bureau of Treasury (BTr) Certified, releases and uncertified collections, and AQMF proposal for Tiers 1 and 2 for CY 2023.
Mr. Joel Tugano, Sr.EMS from the AQMS, explained the status of regional data capture and the status of Adopt-an-Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station. While Engr. Chadbert Nikko D. Aquino, Environmental Management Specialist II from the AQMS, presented the status of air quality monitoring stations, siting criteria, and the status of DAHS Connection.
Representatives from the EMB Regional Offices presented the airshed status and updates including the ambient air quality monitoring with the airshed/s in their jurisdiction, inventory of stations per airshed and proposed number of stations, Adopt-an-Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station, airshed emission inventory, air dispersion modeling, proposed designation of new airshed, details and schedule of designation of attainment and/or non-attainment airshed areas, local government units (LGUs) action plan relative to air quality, utilization of AQMF, and their compliance with EMB Memorandum Circular No. 14, Series of 2021 (EMB MC No. 2021-14), or the Establishment of an Integrated Air Quality Network Center that Monitors and Serves as Repository of Real-Time Industrial Emission from Firms Required to Install Continuous Emissions Monitoring Systems (CEMS)/Continuous Opacity Monitoring System (COMS) through the Use of a Uniform Data Acquisition and Handling System (DAHS), and in Relation to Clarify Pertinent Provisions of Department Administrative Order No. 2017-14.
Engr. Shaun Jasper Go, Site Engineer from the AQMS, presented the data handling protocols, EMB Memorandum Circular No. 07, Series of 2021 (EMB MC 2021-07), or the Adoption of the Manual on Data Handling Protocols for Criteria Air Pollutants. While Engr. Aquino discussed the siting criteria, EMB Memorandum Circular No. 06, Series of 2021 (EMB MC 2021-06), or the Adoption of the Manual for Siting and Design of Philippine Air Quality Monitoring Stations.
Engr. Del Socorro explained the conduct of airshed emissions inventory for stationary sources, while Engr. Go and Engr. Angelo Villegas, Site Engineer from AQMS, discussed the conduct of airshed emissions inventory for mobile and area sources, respectively.
Mr. Michael Argarin, Programmer from the EMB Statistics and Information System Management Section (SISMS), presented the Online Permitting and Monitoring System for Permit to Operate version 3 – Manual of Air Pollution Source Installation/Equipment. While Mr. Amiel Afurong and Mr. John Marie Salcedo, Programmers from the AQMS, presented the Online Test Plan and Stack Sampling System and Online Emission Inventory Databank version 2, respectively. Comments and inputs gathered in the presentations will be taken into consideration for the finalization of online systems.
Engr. Job G. Apiado, Chief of Air and Water Permits Section from EMB Regional Office XIII, then delivered the closing remarks.