Home | To bottom

Pollution up in Baguio’s central business district

BAGUIO CITY (Dec. 23)—Preliminary results of a study on air quality in the city’s central business district (CBD) reveal that pollution has taken its toll in the country’s acclaimed summer capital without alarming local residents and authorities.

Dr. Mary Anne Alabanza-Akers of the University of Georgia said that initially, vehicular exhaust contributes significantly to such air quality in the city. She said Inversion level also affects degree of pollution, since the CBD is cradled in a basin where cold air traps the pollution.

A team of field researchers and principal investigators from the University of Georgia and Kennesaw State University did the tests in 29 sites within the CBD where air quality was checked at 4:30 A.M., 7:30 A.M., and 4:00 P.M. A control site was maintained at the 3rd floor of the De Guia Building or La Azutea, along Session Road.

Of the 29 testing sites, researchers revealed that Carantes Street is most polluted at 7:00 A.M.

The uphill highway at Assumption Road also records a high level of pollution, they said. Traffic at the Magsaysay-Lakandula intersection effected high level of pollution as well.

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 issues affecting vendors in relation to air pollution in the CBD and urban planning. A research on vendors’ health conditions in the CBD was conducted last year. Research on objective health measures will be accomplished in the future, Alabanza-Akers said.

Other principal investigators in the study are Dr. Timothy Akers and Dr. Richard Sowell of Kennesaw State University; and Dr. Luke Naeher from the University of Georgia. Field researchers include Brandon Cassidy, Molly Visser and Melissa Cabinian, all from the University of Georgia.

Alabanza-Akers said that the findings would be analyzed later in the US.

Urban planning and design

An urban planner, Alabanza-Akers said that pollution is a major problem affecting the CBD. Most sidewalks are way beyond their bearing capacity. She added that some assets should be maintained in the CBD, such as “human-scaled buildings, diversity of use and smooth connectivity with other points in the city”.

Alabanza-Akers said walkable urban spaces should be considered, since “good streets are all about publicness.” Old buildings are better preserved than torn down, 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 be of practical use.

Alabanza-Akers stressed that function and process are integral, aside from form when it comes to urban planning.

“People, especially children and the elderly, have to be involved since it is their use of and perception of space that should be considered. Population diversity and values expressed in form are also important considerations,” she said.

She added that all sectors should be tapped for comprehensive planning and implementation of such projects.

Alabanza-Akers also discussed several suggestions to possibly improve the city’s CBD. Traffic decongestion is one of the basic problems that should be resolved, she said.

Born and raised in Baguio City before migrating to the US in the early 1980’s, she encouraged local residents to “show concern for the places we live in because it is who we are.”

“Baguio is always in my mind, I take it with me wherever I go,” she said. # AT Bengwayan for NORDIS

Home | Back to top