News

According to Ms. Flores, A 2015 in a news article entitled ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE

BUILT TO CUT POLLUTION They believe that the two-stroke tricycle is a contributing
factor to the countrys worsening air pollution. At present, of the 2.8 million tricycles
in the country, more than a million continue to be propelled by old, two-stroke
gasoline or diesel-fed engines. Each tricycle also emits an estimated 4.5 metric tons
of CO2 per year.

Two-stroke engines emit more smoke and carbon monoxide than four-stroke engines
found in modern motorcycles.

Attempts have been made previously by the government to mitigate the problem.
The Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 declared two-stroke tricycles as illegal.
Enforcing the ban, however, proved to be another thing, as millions of tricycle
drivers would be affected and may lose their livelihood.

Unlike other environmental issues such as the destruction of coral reefs, which to
most people is largely abstract, air pollution is a daily irritant to everyone especially
in Metro Manila.

Montao and Lim, in an effort to find a plausible solution, set out to develop an
electric motorcycle unit that can be used as a tricycle. Their vision was to create an
electric tricycle that can perform under the harsh rigors of Philippine roads and
respond to the heavy demands that tricycles have to fulfill.

After three years of research and development and rigorous road testing, Phil Etro
EV Inc.s answer to the tricycle problem in the country became a reality.

The breakthrough product, called the Agila, is the first electric motorcycle
designed and assembled in the Philippines. Agila is particularly suited for tricycle
application because of its reliable performance and practicality.

The Agila can carry a load of 350 kilograms, or about five to seven passengers, and
can maneuver its way over steep inclined roads.

It used standard motorcycle parts that are readily available at various motorcycle
shops. It can also be readily attached to any sidecar.

Posted by Online on 2015 Manila, Philippines Air pollution in Metro Manila again
soared to dangerous levels at the height of the New Years celebration Thursday,
prompting the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to seek
stricter laws that will regulate the use of firecrackers and fireworks.

Initial readings from air quality monitoring stations across Metro Manila suggested
that pollution reached hazard levels, according to a report by the DENRs
Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).
Results obtained from a monitoring station in Marikina City showed that PM
(particulate matter) 10 or pollutants with diameter of 10 micrometers or less was
measured at 1,988 micrograms per normal cubic meter from 12 midnight to 1 a.m.
of January 1 from a low of 35 recorded at 7 a.m. on December 31, 2014.

From the monitoring station during the period, the PM 2.5 with diameter of 2.5
micrometers or less was measured at 1,978 from 36, previously.

Among the monitoring stations that readily had results, the one located in Las Pias
City recorded the highest PM 10 reading at 2,000, while its PM2.5 was 1,342.

The National Ambient Guideline Value for PM10 is 60 microgram per normal cubic
meter and PM2.5 is 35.

DENR Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje said it is about time lawmakers review Republic Act
No. 71 83, or the law regulating the sale, manufacture, distribution, and use of
firecrackers and make it consistent with the Philippine Clean Air Act, which aims to
protect Filipinos from harmful effects of air pollution.

He added that a law banning firecrackers would prevent air pollution to reach levels
considered hazardous to human health and the environment during New Year
revelry.

Paje warned that once inhaled, tiny particles can cause respiratory infections, as
well as increased mortality from lung cancer and heart disease.

Based on the standards set by the World Health Organization, air is unhealthy above
100 micrograms. At 300, all children and the elderly should remain indoors.

The PM 10 readings from other monitoring stations are Navotas, 360;

Commonwealth-Quezon City, 359; Malabon, 276; De La Salle Taft-Manila, 195; and
Valenzuela City, 196.

The PM2.5 readings are Navotas, 295; Commonwealth-Quezon City, 349; Malabon,
236; De La Salle Taft-Manila, 123 and Valenzuela City, 166. (Ellalyn B. de Vera)

Articles

Statistic Verification

Source: World Health Organization

Research Date: 7.8.2014

PM10 represents particles in the air that we consider pollution. These particles
might be smoke, dirt, mold, pollen etc. PM10 are the larger course particles that are
kicked up into the air and spread around causing severe health effects. PM2.5
represents fine particles such as toxic compounds and heavy metals caused by fires
and metal smelting. Below is a list of where each country ranks by PM10 measured
in the air.

PM10 Air Quality Index Air Quality Description

0 50 Good

51 100 Moderate

101 150 Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups

151 200 Unhealthy

201 300 Very Unhealthy

301 500 Hazardous

Countries Ranked by Air Pollution

Country Annual mean PM10 ug/m3 Above or below world average of

71ug/m3 Urban population coverage (%)

1. Mongolia 279 208 70%

2. Botswana 216 145 27%

3. Pakistan 198 127 40

4. Senegal 145 74 50%

5. Saudi Arabia 143 72 52

6. Egypt 138 67 21

7. United Arab Emirates 132 61 30.73

8. Iran (Islamic Republic of) 124 53 45

9. Nigeria 124 53 40%

10. Kuwait 123 52 71

11. Bangladesh 120 49 41%

12. Bosnia and Herzegovina 117 46 21%

13. India 109 38 91% by state (37% by metropolitan city)

14. Nepal 106 35 19%

15. Ghana98 27 18%

16. China 98 27 24%

17. Myanmar 94 23 34%

18. Bolivia (Plurinational State of) 82 11 39

19. Tunisia 80 9 74.38

20. Sri Lanka 77 6 22%

21. Peru 74 3 41

22. Colombia 71 -0 34

23. The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 70 -1 100%

24. Madagascar 68 -3 30%

25. Turkey66 -5 29%

26. United Republic of Tanzania 64 -7 29%

27. Chile 62 -9 62

28. Republic of Korea 61 -10 67%

29. Bulgaria 60 -11 40%

30. Israel 59 -12 64%

31. Mexico 55 -16 46

32. Indonesia 55 -16 19%

33. Cyprus 53 -18 100%

34. Lebanon 53 -18 51

35. El Salvador 52 -19 14

36. South Africa 52 -19 21%

37. Jamaica 48 -23 47

38. Guatemala 48 -23 45

39. Philippines 47 -24 22%

40. Greece 44 -27 66%

41. Serbia43 -28 22%

42. Algeria 42 -29 15%

43. Malaysia 42 -29 42%

44. Romania 42 -29 35%

45. Thailand 41 -30 60%

46. Venezuela 41 -30 11

47. Brazil 40 -31 33

48. Panama 40 -31 29

49. Uruguay 39 -32 43

50. Latvia 39 -32 48%

51. Argentina 38 -33 35%

52. Italy 37 -34 28%

53. Ecuador 35 -36 22

54. Malta 35 -36 13%

55. Russian Federation 32.5 -38 11%

56. Croatia 33 -38 37%

57. Poland 33 -38 46%

58. Singapore 32 -39 100%

59. Slovenia 30 -41 28%

60. Spain 29 -42 27%

61. Czech Republic 29 -42 35%

62. Portugal 28 -43 17%

63. Costa Rica 28 -44 55

64. Denmark 27 -44 21%

65. Slovakia 27 -44 21%

66. France 27 -44 38%

67. Hungary 27 -44 30%

68. Belgium 26 -45 22%

69. Netherlands 26 -45 17%

70. Sweden 25 -46 21%

71. Austria 25 -46 38%

72. Germany 25 -46 36%

73. Belarus 24 -47 39

74. Iceland 24 -47 40%

75. United Kingdom 23 -48 29%

76. Japan 22 -49 13%

77. Norway 22 -49 25%

78. New Zealand 22 -49 64%

79. Switzerland 22 -49 12%

80. Lithuania 21 -50 30%

81. Finland 19 -52 20%

82. San Marino 20 -52 100%

83. Luxembourg 18 -53 21%

84. United States of America 18 -53 NA

85. Monaco 18 -53 100%

86. Bhutan 18 -53 40%

87. Ireland 15 -56 21%

88. Canada 13 -58 78%

89. Australia 13 -58 89%

90. Mauritius 12 -59 27%

91. Estonia 11 -60 43%

According to Statistic Brain Research institute (2014), out of 91 countries in the

world Philippines is in the 39th spot in the Countries Ranked by Air Pollution and
its score in the Annual mean PM10 ug/m3 is 47, in Above or below world average
of 71ug/m3 is -24 and lastly in the Urban population coverage (%) the Philippines
has a score of 22% which is the Philippines is still in the good air quality description

According to McCarthy, J. E. (2009) to his report Clean Air Act: A Summary of the Act
and Its Major Requirements Summary. This report summarizes the Clean Air Act and
its major regulatory requirements. It excerpts, with minor modifications, the Clean
Air Act chapter of CRS Report RL30798, which summarizes a dozen environmental
statutes that form the basis for the programs of the Environmental Protection
Agency. The principal statute addressing air quality concerns, the Clean Air Act was
first enacted in 1955, with major revisions in 1970, 1977, and 1990. The Act
requires EPA to set health-based standards for ambient air quality, sets deadlines
for the achievement of those standards by state and local governments, and
requires EPA to set national emission standards for large or ubiquitous sources of air
pollution, including motor vehicles, power plants, and other industrial sources. In
addition, the Act mandates emission controls for sources of 188 hazardous air
pollutants, requires the prevention of significant deterioration of air quality in areas
with clean air, requires a program to restore visibility impaired by regional haze in
national parks and wilderness areas, and implements the Montreal Protocol to phase
out most ozone-depleting chemicals. This report describes the Acts major
provisions and provides tables listing all major amendments, with the year of
enactment and Public Law number, and cross referencing sections of the Act with
the major U.S. Code sections of the codified statute.

Journals

According to Hirota (2009) in its journal entitled Comparative Studies on Vehicle

Related Policies for Air Pollution Reduction in Ten Asian Countries.Hirota stated that
Asian countries are facing major air pollution problems due to rapid economic
growth, urbanization and motorization. Mortality and respiratory diseases caused by
air pollution are believed to be endemic in major cities of these countries.
Regulations and standards are the first requirement for reducing emissions from
both fixed and mobile sources. This paper emphasizes monitoring problems such as
vehicle registration systems, inspection and maintenance (I/M) systems and fuel
quality monitoring systems for vehicles in use. Monitoring problems in developing
countries share similar characteristics such as a weakness in government initiatives
and inadequate operation of government agencies, which results from a lack of
human resources and availability of adequate facilities. Finally, this paper proposes
a method to assure air quality improvements under the different shares of emission
regulations in these Asian countries and introduces an example of an evaluation
method based on a policy survey to improve air quality.

According to Solidum (2008) to its journal entitled Distribution of Airborne Lead in

Metro Manila, Philippines. The adverse effects of heavy metal contamination, such
as lead in the environment, have been a worldwide concern. In the Philippines, the
use of leaded gasoline was phased-out in Metro Manila in April 2000. This study
investigated the distribution of airborne lead in three major thorough fares in Metro
Manila. Lead levels in plants and soil surfaces were correlated with both human
blood samples and rainwater collected from selected building rooftops in Metro
Manila.

The range of lead levels in plant species and soil samples were 0.25 to 17.36 mg/kg
and 83.74 to 183.51 ug/g, respectively. Lead levels in rainwater and blood samples
ranged from 0.95 to 1.29mg/l and 0.05 to 0.38 ug/g, respectively, showing that lead
levels in Manila are beyond allowable limits. There was significant correlation
between lead levels of plant species and the different areas of studies, as well as
with those of soil and rain water samples. Of the 76 human respondents, with mean
age of 39 years old and mean stay in the streets as street workers for 16.5 years,
43.4% of complained of both respiratory and non-respiratory ailments, 30.3% and
22.4% complained chiefly of respiratory and non-respiratory ailments, respectively.
The respondents were generally restless and easily distracted. Only 25% admitted
of committing crime.