By Aileen P. Refuerzo
BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – The City Environment and Parks Management Office shed light on the current status of the city’s air quality.
CEPMO Head Rhenan Diwas said it is true that rapid urbanization had taken its toll on the city’s urban capacity including its air quality over the years but the city government did not take it sitting down.
He said since 2019, the city had embarked on environmental programs meant to systematically address air pollution and other environmental hazards with the end in view of slowing down if not totally arresting urban decay.
And because of this, the city’s air quality had not gone worse and this fact is supported by data, Diwas said.
“Real-time air quality readings from the Environmental Management Bureau Cordillera (EMB-CAR’)s new continuous monitoring station in Burnham Park and our own monitoring machines (and even from global AQI trackers) show that most of the time, Baguio’s air is in the Good to Moderate range—not “Poor,” Diwas said.
He said there were occasional times when the quality dipped “especially during festivals, long weekends, or when weather keeps the smoke from dispersing considering the city’s high altitude, but these poor readings were short-lived.
“In fact, recent EMB-CAR data and city’s data even shows particulate matter (PM) levels in some key areas have dropped by more than half compared to previous years,” he said.
Aside from these data, he said improvements in the city’s cleanliness including air quality had gained recognition.
“In 2024, Baguio ranked fifth as the cleanest city in Southeast Asia which considered air quality, water quality, noise, cleanliness, green space, and other as criteria. On top of that, Baguio became a Hall of Famer in the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Award (2020–2024)—the first city in the Philippines to earn that distinction,” Diwas said.
“How did we get here?,” Diwas spelled out the programs, projects and activities being undertaken by the city;
“Since 2019, aside from other projects and programs, the city has been following a clear roadmap to protect and expand our urban forests, supported by consistent tree planting and putting up quality nurseries. This project was even recognized nationally, with Baguio becoming a finalist in the 2024 DILG Subaybayani Awards – a distinction to well-managed and monitored LGU infrastructure projects;
“Moreover, the Adopt-a-Park Program grew because of trust in leadership with more than 40 companies, NGOs, and foundations are now helping maintain our parks and green spaces;
“Stricter zoning policies are finally paying off. Yes, some business sectors resisted at first, but now we see buildings with proper parking, sidewalks being respected and fewer tree cuttings.
“Even foundations from outside the city (all the way from Metro Manila) have trusted our leadership enough to invest millions in improving open spaces—like Upper Wright Park’s reflection pool, Post Office Park, and Sunshine Park—without a single peso of public funds…and more green projects are coming!”
“These are not just projects on paper, not some ghost projects funded from government coffers. They are tangible proof that when leadership has direction, transparency, and the courage to make unpopular decisions at first, results follow,” Diwas stressed.
“Of course, we still have much to do. But one thing is clear: Baguio’s leadership is not doing nothing. We are moving forward…and upward!,” he added.
