Anti-Pollution Watchdog Lauds QCCBAI for Not Blasting Firecrackers to Welcome the Lunar New Year
The EcoWaste Coalition, a waste and pollution watchdog, commended the Quezon City Chinatown Business Association, Inc. (QCCBAI) for opting not to explode firecrackers and fireworks to welcome the Year of the Green Wooden Sheep tonight.
“We laud the QCCBAI for its decision to usher in the Lunar New Year with torotot instead of firecrackers that generate hazardous air pollutants and residual solid waste,” said Aileen Lucero, Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition.
“Blowing up firecracker can make air pollution soar to hazard levels as we have seen during the last New Year’s revelry,” she said.
Citing data released by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Lucero said that particulate matter PM 10 and PM 25 rose to dangerous levels in some monitoring stations in Metro Manila.
For example, PM 10 was measured from 12 midnight to 1:00 am of January 1, 2015 at 2,000 and 1,988 micrograms per normal cubic meter at the DENR’s monitoring stations in Las Piñas and Marikina Cities, respectively, way above the National Ambient Guideline Value of 60 mg/ncm for PM 10.
“A greener celebration without pollution suits the Wooden Sheep who loves a beautiful and clean environment,” Lucero said.
“We hope that other business establishments and associations will follow QCCBAI’s eco-decision and do away with toxic firecrackers and fireworks,” she said.
According to Willy Coyukiat, President of QCCBAI: “The celebration does not only aim to strengthen the relationship between the Chinese and the Filipino people, but above all begin an advocacy of banning fireworks during Christmas, New Year and other special occasions to
avoid environmental degradation and pollution.”
As an alternative to firecrackers, the QCCBAI will hold a "Torotot Festival" and give cash rewards to lucky participants with the most creative torotot.
-end-
Reference:
http://www.denr.gov.ph/news-and-features/latest-news/2055-denr-metro-manila-pollution-soars-to-hazard-levels-with-firecrackers-smoke.html
“We laud the QCCBAI for its decision to usher in the Lunar New Year with torotot instead of firecrackers that generate hazardous air pollutants and residual solid waste,” said Aileen Lucero, Coordinator of the EcoWaste Coalition.
“Blowing up firecracker can make air pollution soar to hazard levels as we have seen during the last New Year’s revelry,” she said.
Citing data released by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Lucero said that particulate matter PM 10 and PM 25 rose to dangerous levels in some monitoring stations in Metro Manila.
For example, PM 10 was measured from 12 midnight to 1:00 am of January 1, 2015 at 2,000 and 1,988 micrograms per normal cubic meter at the DENR’s monitoring stations in Las Piñas and Marikina Cities, respectively, way above the National Ambient Guideline Value of 60 mg/ncm for PM 10.
“A greener celebration without pollution suits the Wooden Sheep who loves a beautiful and clean environment,” Lucero said.
“We hope that other business establishments and associations will follow QCCBAI’s eco-decision and do away with toxic firecrackers and fireworks,” she said.
According to Willy Coyukiat, President of QCCBAI: “The celebration does not only aim to strengthen the relationship between the Chinese and the Filipino people, but above all begin an advocacy of banning fireworks during Christmas, New Year and other special occasions to
avoid environmental degradation and pollution.”
As an alternative to firecrackers, the QCCBAI will hold a "Torotot Festival" and give cash rewards to lucky participants with the most creative torotot.
-end-
Reference:
http://www.denr.gov.ph/news-and-features/latest-news/2055-denr-metro-manila-pollution-soars-to-hazard-levels-with-firecrackers-smoke.html
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