THE ASIAN DEVELOPMENT Bank (ADB) said it approved a $1-million technical assistance (TA) grant to reduce air pollution in Naga City, Cebu.
ADB project documents available online show that it approved on Monday the grant for Air Quality Management in connection with the Visayas Base-Load Power Development Project.
“This TA aims to improve air quality in Naga City, Cebu and promote mitigating measures that will include improved delivery of public health systems and foster development of sustainable communities,” the document read.
The funds will support air dispersion modeling studies, and capacity building at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) office in Cebu, which is the implementing agency.
Studies for the project will include the preparation of an air pollutant emissions inventory for major sources, data collection on pollutant emissions, ambient air quality monitoring, air dispersion modeling and prediction to assess compliance with national ambient air quality standards and evaluation according to international guidelines.
According to the regional lender, Naga City is home to two cement facilities operating there since 1994, which aside from quarries and motor vehicles in the city, are contributing to air pollution.
“The outcome will be the enhanced capacity of the local DENR office and selected qualified members of the project multipartite monitoring team and Airshed Governing Board to monitor and mitigate air pollution in the project area,” the ADB said.
In its 2018-2020 Country Operations Business Plan, the ADB has some $968 million available for financing government projects this year, $1.4 billion in 2019, and $1.36 billion in 2020. — Elijah Joseph C. Tubayan
