Metro Manila air quality improved in 2024 due to Euro 4 fuel standards, says DENR

AIR QUALITY in Metro Manila improved significantly in 2024, largely due to emission-reduction programs including the enforcement of Euro 4 fuel standards since 2016, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.

Based on data from the agency’s Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), average particulate matter 10 (PM10) concentration in the capital region fell 17.4% to 38 micrograms per normal cubic meter (µg/ncm) from 46 µg/ncm in 2016.

PM10 refers to particles 10 micrometers or smaller, while PM2.5 includes finer particles of 2.5 micrometers or less. Such pollutants, often produced by vehicle exhaust, burning of fossil fuels and industrial processes, can penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream, the DENR said.

The EMB also recorded a 37.6% improvement in PM2.5 levels in Metro Manila, from 27 µg/ncm in 2016 to 16.86 µg/ncm in 2024.

Nationwide, the DENR reported a 28.2% reduction in PM10, from 39 µg/ncm in 2016 to 28 µg/ncm in 2024 — well below the national guideline value of 60 µg/ncm. PM2.5 levels also dropped to 16 µg/ncm in 2024 from 20 µg/ncm in 2016, reflecting the effectiveness of emission-reduction initiatives.

The agency said 65% of highly urbanized and major urban centers — or 22 out of 34 cities — complied with both PM10 and PM2.5 air quality guidelines last year, surpassing the national compliance target of 62%.

From 2022 to 2024, the EMB issued 1,807 certificates for Euro 4-compliant vehicles, certifying that new units meet emission standards before entering the market. Euro 4 regulations set strict limits on pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons from both light- and heavy-duty vehicles.

The DENR said it is “actively leading” the shift toward Euro 5 fuels and engines, which could cut particulate emissions by as much as 95.5%. It is also pushing changes to the Philippine Clean Air Act to strengthen standards regulating industrial emissions, particularly particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides.

The EMB has been implementing industrial emission monitoring programs covering coal-fired power plants, cement plants and other major facilities. As of June, 20 companies with 59 stack sampling teams were accredited to conduct emission testing, up from 57 teams last year.

The bureau said many facilities are now equipped with continuous emission monitoring systems linked to the EMB Data Center, allowing real-time emission tracking and ensuring compliance.

To support air quality management, the EMB operates 113 air quality monitoring stations nationwide, providing real-time data on harmful pollutants to guide policymaking. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza