Calamba Tops List of PH Cities with Cleanest Air

Calamba City in Laguna has again topped the list of cities with the cleanest air in the Philippines and ranked sixth in Southeast Asia, according to a Swiss environmental technology company.

In IQAir’s 2023 World Air Quality Report, Calamba registered a PM2.5 measurement of 8.2 μg/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter), meaning a cubic meter of Calamba’s air contains 8.2 micrograms of particles sized 2.5 microns or smaller.

IQAir regularly reviews PM2.5 air quality in more than 7,800 cities across 134 countries and territories. PM2.5 air quality refers to particulate matter or particles consisting of microscopic solids or liquid droplets smaller than 2.5 microns in size suspended in the air. The US Environmental Protection Agency says that particulate matter 10 microns or smaller can cause health problems, with particles less than 2.5 microns posing the greatest risks.

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Following Calamba in the Philippine ranking are Carmona, Cavite with 8.9 μg/m3 and Balanga, Bataan with 9.2 μg/m3, ranking ninth and 11th in Southeast Asia, respectively.

Back in 2018, Calamba was also recognized as the cleanest city in Southeast Asia with a 9.2 μg/m3 PM2.5 record, followed by Valenzuela and Parañaque.

Calamba City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) supervising environmental management specialist Ronn Martin Reyes said that his city is still looking to strengthen environmental ordinances despite the positive achievement.

“We actually have regulations about the use of styrofoam and plastic bags, which are covered under ordinance 10-481. We will be focusing on reviewing and strengthening these laws by campaigning to utilize alternatives,” Reyes said during a Philippine Information Agency radio program.

Calamba has a ten-year Solid Waste Management Plan that will be subject to revisions depending on findings from the analysis of household wastes and establishments, added Reyes. The city also plans to set up a Task Force KKK (Kalikasan at Kalinisan para sa Kaligtasan) that will manage cleaning operations throughout the city. Also in the works is an ordinance banning the burning of garbage that can pollute the air.