Zamboanga City – Zamboangueños are lucky – they can still enjoy breathing clean air.

This was disclosed in the analysis report of the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and National Resources (DENR) which was released early this month from the samples collected for the second quarter of 2009.

A copy of the analysis result was furnished to Mayor Celso L. Lobregat for information. The samples were collected from the three Air Quality Monitoring Stations established in the city – one each at the Zamboanga City Medical Center (ZCMC), Philippine International Development and Barangay Sto. Niño.

Allan Degala, head of the EMB here, said the results of the analysis showed the average Total Suspended Particulate (TSP) of the three monitoring stations ranged from 134 to 153 microgram per normal cubic meter, way below the National Ambient Air Quality Standard of 230 microgram per normal cubic meter as set by the DENR-EMB.

Degala said the DENR-EMB collects air samples from each established station for 24 hours every six days.

From the collected samples, the average TSP per station is then calculated and compared against the national air quality standard.

The lower the TSP, the better the air quality at the given location.

Degala attributes the good air quality to the ongoing programs on environmental protection and preservation being undertaken by the city government in coordination with the DENR.

He pointed out that the city government under Lobregat’s administration is pursuing without let-up the implementation of environment-related programs such as tree planting, forest and mangrove conservation as well as sustained cleanliness and sanitation activities.