The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), through its Air Quality Management Section (AQMS), conducts heightened air quality monitoring today, July 28, 2025, during President Ferdinand “Bong Bong” R. Marcos, Jr.’s 4th State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Plenary Hall of the House of Representatives at the Batasang Pambansa Complex, Batasan Hills, in Quezon City.

This proactive measure aims to ensure the strict upholding of environmental laws and regulations throughout the event, especially given the anticipated burning of effigies by various groups, which can significantly impact air quality and public health.
EMB’s monitoring efforts will focus on key air pollutants, including Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2).

Effigy burning, a customary practice during protests, releases a cocktail of harmful substances into the atmosphere. This includes fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, leading to aggravated respiratory conditions like asthma, bronchitis, and even long-term cardiovascular and lung diseases. Other pollutants like CO reduce the blood’s oxygen-carrying capacity, while SO2 and NO2 can irritate the respiratory system, particularly for sensitive populations such as the elderly, children, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions.

The EMB’s deployment of real-time air quality monitoring stations underscores its commitment to public health and environmental protection under the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 (Republic Act 8749). Data collected will be crucial in assessing the immediate impact of such activities on ambient air quality in the vicinity and informing any necessary advisories to the public.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reiterates its call for all concerned parties to consider the environmental and health implications of burning activities and to explore alternative, more environmentally sound forms of expression to protect the nation’s air quality and the well-being of its citizens. ###