Health professionals, scientists and environmental advocates have formed a regional coalition calling for stronger air pollution controls and wider real-time monitoring in Cebu, citing the health risks posed by coal-fired power plants, vehicle emissions and recurring haze.
The Cebu Clean Air Network (Cebu CAN), launched at the University of the Philippines Cebu on Nov. 13, urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Health (DOH) to align Philippine air quality standards with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines.
The coalition said Cebu needs localized action plans with measurable targets to address pollution sources, alongside more accessible and continuous reporting of air quality data.
It identified nearly 900 megawatts of coal-fired power capacity in Toledo and Naga, as well as heavy traffic emissions in urban areas across Cebu Province, as major contributors to air pollution.
Cebu CAN also called on local governments to develop and implement clean air policies, noting that Cebu still lacks a local Clean Air Action Plan.
The network said the country’s annual guideline for fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, established in 2020, remains five times higher than the WHO recommendation.
The national ambient air quality guideline for 24-hour averages is also more than twice the WHO level.
Although the Clean Air Act took effect in 1999 and the national government is revising its 2000 National Air Quality Control Action Plan, the coalition said local implementation and monitoring remain inadequate.
Cebu experienced several episodes of deteriorating air quality this year. In April, the DENR Environmental Management Bureau Region 7 monitoring station in Talisay recorded a “very unhealthy” air quality index, which authorities attributed to vehicle and industrial emissions.
Volcanic activity from Mt. Kanlaon also affected air quality in Metro Cebu in July, while haze from forest and peatland fires in Indonesia raised pollution levels again in September.
The coalition pointed out that Cebu Province, home to more than five million people, has only two air quality monitoring stations, located in Talisay and Toledo.
This limits access to localized, real-time information and complicates responses to pollution episodes.
“Clean air isn’t just about hospital visits. It’s about building healthier communities where our families can thrive,” said Ara Alejo, clean air campaigner at 350 Pilipinas.
“Our national limits allow five times more PM2.5 than WHO recommends. Haze comes and goes and only exacerbates the air that is already being polluted by our own sources. As ASEAN chair, the Philippines should lead by example,” Alejo added.
Cebuano pulmonologist Dr. Peter Blanco of the Health Alliance for Climate and Clean Air Philippines (HACCAP) warned that fine particles can penetrate the lungs and enter the bloodstream, increasing the risks of respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses.
He said exposure can trigger asthma attacks, worsen chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes and lung cancer. Children, older people and those with existing heart or lung conditions face greater risks.
“Bringing our standards closer to WHO levels is one of the most effective things we can do to protect Cebuanos’ health,” Blanco said.
The network also linked dependence on fossil fuels to household electricity and healthcare expenses. It noted that more than 80 percent of the coal used in the Philippines is imported, exposing electricity costs to fluctuations in global fuel prices.
A 2021 study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air and the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities estimated that air pollution costs the country P4.5 trillion annually in economic losses.
“Fossil fuels tax Cebuanos twice: first on power bills when imported coal prices surge, and again on medical bills when pollution makes people sick,” said Estela Vasquez, Visayas coordinator of the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice.
“Sunlight and wind don’t get more expensive during global crises. Expanding local renewables, as well as active and public transport, protects households from fuel shocks while cutting healthcare spending,” she added.
Cebu CAN’s launch included the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Clean Air Asia and UP Cebu for the installation of additional air quality sensors.
Organizers also unveiled a public mural through 350 Pilipinas and the Concerned Artists of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter.
The network brings together Clean Air Asia, the UP Cebu Center for Environmental Informatics, 350 Pilipinas, the Concerned Artists of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter, HACCAP, the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice, AktivAsia, Health Care Without Harm, Greenpeace Cebu and Amnesty International.
Its formation comes ahead of the Philippines’ hosting of the 49th ASEAN Summit in Manila on Nov. 16 to 18, where leaders are expected to discuss transboundary haze.
Cebu CAN urged ASEAN leaders to address cross-border haze while calling on the Philippine government to strengthen domestic pollution controls through clear implementation plans, measurable targets and expanded real-time air quality monitoring.
The network said it plans to work with Cebu local governments on clean air action plans, as well as energy and transport policies.
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