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Baguio Pollution Hurts
U.S. Scientists
A group of U.S.-based
urban planners has revealed that pollution is taking its toll on this city
– the Philippines’ acclaimed summer resort – without alarming local
residents and authorities. Some of the investigators felt dizzy themselves
after conducting pollution tests.
By AT Bengwayan
Northern Dispatch
Posted by Bulatlat
BAGUIO CITY – A group
of U.S.-based urban planners has revealed that pollution is taking its
toll on this city – the Philippines’ acclaimed summer resort – without
alarming local residents and authorities.
Air quality in
Baguio’s central business district (CBD) – the center of vehicular traffic
– is poor, said Dr. Mary Anne Alabanza-Akers of the University of
Georgia.
An urban planning specialist, Alabanza-Akers was born and raised in
Baguio before migrating to the United
States in the early 1980’s.
The Filipino-American
urban planner was part of a team of scientists who conducted a study of
the city’s population level. In the team were Dr. Timothy Akers and Dr.
Richard Sowell of Kennesaw
State
University; and Dr. Luke Naeher from the
University of Georgia.
There were also three field researchers, all from the
University of
Georgia.
In a conference with
reporters late December, Dr. Alabanza-Akers said that initially, vehicular
exhaust contributes significantly to air pollution in the city. Baguio’s
CBD is cradled in a basin where cold air traps the pollution, she said.
The team of
scientists did the tests in 29 sites within the CBD, measuring air quality
early morning and also during rush hours. A control site was maintained at
the 3rd floor of the De Guia Building or La Azutea, along
Session Road.
The scientists said
that of the 29 testing sites,
Carantes Street near Burnham Park
showed the highest pollution at 7 a.m. The uphill Assumption Road and the
Magsaysay-Lakandula intersection also recorded a high level of pollution,
they said.
Pollution made investigators dizzy
Alabanza-Akers
explained that ideally, fieldwork was supposed to be done daily for two
consecutive weeks. “However, we had to give our field researchers a
two-day break after each day of field work since daily exposure to
pollution made them dizzy…they started feeling light-headed,” she said.
Pollutants were
collected and recorded with the use of a Dustrak, which records
particulate matter (PM) at levels 10 and 2.5. PM 10 usually affects the
upper respiratory tract. PM 2.5 is considered more dangerous because it
affects the lower respiratory system.
The recent research,
which is phase 3 of a study, will also look into health conditions of
market vendors who conduct their trade right in the CBD.
Alabanza-Akers said
that their findings will be analyzed later in the United States.
Urban planning and design
Alabanza-Akers said
that most sidewalks in the CBD are way beyond their bearing capacity, she
added. She said urban spaces should be maintained and old buildings
preserved, adding that historical context is also an important
consideration in urban design and planning.
Contact with nature
is a basic human need, she said, emphasizing that trees in the CBD will
not only add aesthetics but will also help reduce pollution.
Alabanza-Akers also
discussed several suggestions to improve the city’s CBD. Traffic
decongestion is one of the basic problems that should be resolved, she
said.
“Baguio is always in
my mind, I take it with me wherever I go,” she said.
The U.S. study also
confirmed a previous environmental report by the World Bank that found
Baguio as one of the most-polluted cities in the world. NORDIS/
Bulatlat
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