Alternative fuels and Green vehicle: Ways to reduce Air Pollution

by Arnie Fe Escabusa

I had a glanced upon the black smoke being released by a Ship liner near the area of Macabalan and funnel of a factory somewhere in Cagayan de Oro. This scenery disappoints me and somehow ruins the nice view of the whole city. The progress of the City is irreversible and it can’t be halter and so do pollution. There are ways on how to avoid pollution and controlling it isn't just about picking the best solution and doing nothing else. There are many little things people can do every day to somehow reduce the problem.

Air pollution has been a serious issue throughout the world and even in small Cities like Cagayan de Oro. There are different kinds of pollution though. Air pollution, water pollution and ground pollution are just a few. It has caused the environment weak and therefore endangers not only humans but also animals, and plants. In the near future if this sick thing continues, Our City might not be able to function properly and would perhaps lead us to something even more terrible.

Smoke does not only affect the human health but it is also harmful to the environment. The most widely used mode of transportation in Cagayan de Oro is by jeepney and motorela. Both serve as the backbone of transportation system in the City. Even one motor or jeep can contribute a lot to the pollution problem of the City. It is also a fact that most of kagay-anons primary source of income is through driving. Aside from the air pollution that we get from the continuous number of vehicles around the City, it also affects the traffic mode within the area. Most likely if we travel from one point to another it involves combustion of a fossil fuel, a process that releases gasses and affects the environment.

When a car is running, several different types of gasses and particles are released that can have detrimental effects on the environment. Of particular concern to the environment are carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, hydrocarbons any of more than a dozen volatile organic compounds, some of which are known carcinogens, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and particulate matter, tiny particles of solids, such as metal and soot. Other emissions that affect human health and create smog include ozone and carbon monoxide. The conventional car, which uses an internal engine, is one of the biggest sources of pollution, considering that there are more than a thousand of these cars in the City. As a car owner, you have the responsibility of minimizing your car's contribution to pollution.

We can switch to cleaner fuels like the alternative ones. There are low polluting fuelssthat can be used in motor vehicles instead of using gasoline or diesel. Example: ethanol, methanol, natural gas and electricity. There are also some folks in Cagayan de Oro who uses electric jeepney particularly in the uptown area near SM.

There are certain projects being practiced in Cagayan de Oro City such as “The clean air for smaller cities project” by the city Government in cooperation with the ASEAN. The project hopes to empower smaller cities to develop and implement their own "Clean Air Action Plan" with the participation of civil society and the private sector since many laws protecting the environment are not fully realized in all its objectives.

On a larger scale, Government not only in the Philippines but also outside the country are taking measures into limiting emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses. One way is to put higher taxes on gasoline, so that people and companies will have greater incentives to conserve energy and pollute less.

#environment