Residents of Metro Manila will be breathing cleaner air with
the phase-out of leaded gasoline in the metropolis beginning April
1, Environment Secretary Antonio Cerilles announced yesterday.
Cerilles said this would be followed by a nationwide phase-out
on January 1, 2001, making the Philippines the 14th
country to eliminate the manufacture, distribution and use of
leaded gasoline.
The Metro Manila phaseout is actually nine months ahead of the
January 1, 2001, schedule under the Clean Air Act of 1999.
Cerilles said this would soon be followed by other
anti-pollution measures. These include: a ban on the importation
of second-hand vehicles and engines, introduction of the motor
vehicle inspection system, release of the implementing rules and
guidelines of the Clean Air Act, and the closure of the Sucat and
Manila oil-fired power plants by midyear.
Leaded gas typically contains approximately 4 grams of lead per
3.8 liters. Unleaded fuel on the other hand should contain no more
than 5/100ths of a gram of lead per 3.8 liters, Cerilles said.
