By: Angelica Arquero
Baguio City, long celebrated for its cool and fresh air, faces a less-known issue, rising air pollution in some areas, particularly around Session Road.
According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB CAR), certain parts of the city have recorded unhealthy levels of air quality.
Remy Kawis, who has lived in Baguio since the 1940s, shared her observations about how the city has changed through the decades.
“Back then, there were fewer people, and it was really very clean,” she recalled. “Now, there are more buildings and some people don’t know how to properly dispose of their garbage.”
She added that the quality of the air is no longer the same. “Before, you could really smell the pine trees. The air from the trees, now, I think it’s gone because of global warming.”
Other residents also echoed these sentiments. Victoria Pabrico noted, “The air in Baguio today is very different from before, although it’s still fresh.” Tourists like Adrian Santiago also appreciate the city’s air. “It still feels fresh here,” he said. “Compared to Cavite, which is full of pollution and smoke from vehicles, it’s way better here.”
To further monitor and preserve air quality, the DENR recently installed a new real-time air quality monitoring station at Burnham Lake View Deck.
“This is an air monitoring station here at Burnham Park,” said Regional Director Jean Borromeo. “It will help us know the quality of air, especially because this is a place where people come to relax and exercise. It’s important that they are breathing clean air.”
Based on DENR data, most parts of Baguio still enjoy good air quality.
The city follows the following standards: Good: 0–20 micrograms per cubic meter, Fair: 25.1–35.0 micrograms per cubic meter, and Unhealthy: 49 and above micrograms per cubic meter.
However, the DENR revealed that Lower Session Road has occasionally recorded levels above 70 micrograms per cubic meter, an unhealthy range.
“We once had a reading above 70 at Lower Session Road,” Borromeo said. “It could be due to idling traffic in that area.”
The DENR’s air pollution inventory also identifies vehicular emissions as the major contributor to the city’s air pollution.
“The local government has a campaign to ensure only clean-emission vehicles are allowed,” Borromeo added. “We all benefit from this environment.
Let’s avoid vehicles that emit black smoke and stop open burning, which is also prohibited.”
The Burnham station is the 26th monitoring system in Baguio, and plans are underway to install more across the city.
