ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

Third Quarter/Lesson 1/Week 1: March 22-26, 2021

LEARNING COMPETENCIES:
Describe the state of the Philippine environment
Describe the pollutants in the environment (Air, Water and Land Pollution)
Sources: https://www.iqair.com/us/philippines
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_issues_in_the_Philippines

The Philippine Environment

The Philippines' evident risk to natural disasters is

due to its location. Being a country that lies in
the Pacific Ring of Fire, it is prone to earthquakes
and volcanic eruptions. In addition, the country is
surrounded by large bodies of water and facing
the Pacific Ocean where 60% of the world's
typhoons are made. One of the most
devastating typhoons that hit the Philippines in
2013 was Typhoon Haiyan, or "Yolanda," that
killed over 10,000 people and destroyed over a
trillion pesos worth of properties and damage to
various sectors. Other environmental problems
that the country is facing include pollution, illegal
mining and logging, , dynamite fishing,
landslides, coastal erosion,
wildlife extinction, global warming and climate
change.

AIR POLLUTION

Air pollution can be defined as the alteration of air quality that can be characterized by measurements of
physical or biological elements in the air. The undesirable presence of these particles can fall into 2 categories,
visible and invisible. Air pollution use usually attributed to human activity, but it can be caused naturally on
some occasions, such as wildfires, volcanic eruption and dust storms.

Due to industrial waste and automobiles, Manila suffers from air pollution, affecting 98% of the
population. Annually, the air pollution causes more than 4,000 deaths. Ermita is Manila's most air polluted
district due to open dump sites and industrial waste. According to Metro Manila Development Authority
(MMDA), the country produces an average of 41 kilotons of garbage daily with almost 10 ktons/day coming
from Metro Manila alone. Most of the municipal solid wastes are either disposed in the dump sites or openly
burned, which further worsen the quality of heavy polluted air in the cities.

Greenhouse gas emissions

Philippines share in the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is at 0.31%. Nevertheless, the country is highly
vulnerable to the effects of climate change. GHG emissions in the Philippines is rising. GHG is the leading cause
of global climate change. As much a 41.8% of the country's GHG emissions come from the burning of coal and
fuel oil for electricity generation. The Philippines, a signatory of the Paris climate accord, aims to cut its
emissions by 70% by 2030.

AIR QUALITY FORECAST FOR PHILIPPINES

A survey conducted in 2020 estimated the population to be in excess of 109 million people. In December 2020
the air quality index AQI for Manila recorded levels of 91 US AQI which classifies it as “Moderate” according to
the World Health Organization.
In 2019 Philippines was ranked as being 57 out of 98 countries, with an average US AQI reading of 63 and an
average PM2.5 reading of 17.6 µg/m³.

Let’s review previous lesson.

According to WHO, Philippines is classified as “Moderate” (air quality). What does this mean?
____________________________________________________________________________

HOW BAD IS THE AIR POLLUTION IN PHILIPPINES?

The population of Manila has grown at an alarming rate since 1970, faster than
any other city. Thousands live in poor quality housing in the shadow of
industrial plants or power stations. Smog (a combination of smoke, fogs and air
pollutants) is almost constantly hanging over the city, exacerbated by the 2.2
million vehicles that clog the streets on a daily basis. According to reports
published by WHO, levels of airborne particles of lead (Pb) are three times than
the acceptable figure.

Before the COVID 19 pandemic, there were some rainy days in Manila when a
thick haze would envelop the city totally obscuring the city skyline. At the start
of lockdown, due to the reduction in traffic and industries working, the air
quality began to improve due to the lack of emissions. Many residents were
reminded just how close the city is to the majestic Sierra Madre range of
mountains which was now visible from the city centre due to the lack of haze
hanging over the city.

Residents took to social media to spread photographs of sunsets over the city using the Sierra Madre as a
dramatic backdrop. By following the lead set by other countries in trying to contain the spread of COVID 19,
the Philippine government inadvertently improved the air quality in Metro Manila within a fortnight.

Activity 1: REFLECT: Compare and contrast the air quality of Manila before and during the COVID 19
pandemic.
Air quality before the pandemic Air quality during the pandemic

EXPLAIN: How does the lockdown and ECQ improve the air quality of Metro Manila?
__________________________________________________________________________

DESCRIBE: What can you tell about your environment before and during the pandemic?
______________________________________________________________________________
MAIN CAUSES and EFFECTS OF AIR POLLUTION IN THE
PHILIPPINES
According to figures from 2016, 80 per cent of the country’s air
pollution comes from motor vehicles whilst the remaining 20
per cent comes from stationary sources, such as factories and
the open burning of organic matter. Another contributory
factor is the weather.
Satellite data showed a significant drop in the pollution levels
both in Metro Manila and its neighbouring province of Bulacan
for the second half of March. Which coincided with the start of
the ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) in Luzon cities.
These figures were compared to the comparable timescale
from previous years. However, some areas reported an
increase in levels due to burning organic waste.

Activity 2: Do this: Below are causes of air pollution and put a

check mark if these are present or absent in your environment,
describe how it affects you and your family.

Causes Present/absent effects

Motor vehicles

Factory smokes

Open burning of organic matter (burning

of plastics, leaves, grillings, and other
related activities

EFFECTS OF POOR AIR QUALITY ON HEALTH

Sources Effects Vulnerability
vehicle exhaust fumes High level of lead content on bloodstreams children who live
and beg on Manila’s
congested streets
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and severe respiratory and cardiovascular health diseases People living in
particulate matter, or PM2.5 highly urbanized
affects the body’s natural defenses against airborne cities
viruses and increases vulnerability to COVID-19
black carbon (BC) and accelerate glacial melt due to global warming Everyone
methane (CH4) poses a threat to water and food systems by reducing
other air pollutants such as sunlight reaching the leaves and thus preventing Water organisms
carbon dioxide photosynthesis
PM2.5 (particulate matter) or to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and can People living in
soot sans dust easily trigger an asthma attack areas with poor air
quality
Improving the Air Quality in Philippines

Many middle-class citizens who are aware of this problem choose to keep their children indoors and try to
clean the air using filtered air conditioners and ionizers, but this resulted in other problems due to the total
lack of exercise.

Proposals have been put forward to phase

out the use of leaded gasoline, reduce
industrial emissions through filtration,
encourage recycling and outlaw vehicles older
than 15 years and ban bonfires where
garbage is incinerated. The rush-hour traffic
in Metro Manila moves more slowly than
anywhere else in Southeast Asia. There is
currently an overhead rail system but
presently only covers a 30-kilometre track.
Investing in the expansion of this system
would help reduce the number of vehicle on
the roads. Air quality becomes good during
lockdowns, but pollutant level will increase
again as soon as pandemic came to an end.
Once carbon dioxide (CO2) is released, it has
the ability to remain for the next century. So
a few relatively “clean” months will have no
effect in the long run.

REFLECTION: It was stated that air quality has improved since the quarantine period. Should we rejoice about
this? _____________________________________________________________

Activity 3: What should or shouldn’t be done? Complete the sentences below by supplying the blanks with
“should” or “shouldn’t.
1. We should ___________________ burn trees.
2. We ________________ walk or ride a bike to school.
3. We _______________ leave the electric fan running even the air is cool.
4. We ______________ turn off the lights and the computer when we leave the room.
5. We ______________ recycle waste paper, bottles and cans.
6. We ________________ use aerosols.
7. We ___________________ use low energy light bulbs.
8. We ___________________ drop litters in the street.
SUMMARY OF DISCUSSION:
Use the picture to write 5 facts and information about air pollution. Choose from picture A to J
example. A. Sources of air pollution are from exhaust of trucks.

A.
B.

C.

E. F.
D.

J. I
G.
H.

1. ____________________________________________ _____________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________________________________
4. _______________________________________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________________________________________