The Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) has reported significant improvements in the country’s air quality for 2024, highlighting marked reductions in harmful particulate matter levels and the strengthening of environmental enforcement.
Based on national air quality monitoring data, Metro Manila’s PM10 concentration dropped by 17.4 percent, from 46 µg/ncm in 2016 to 38 µg/ncm in 2024. Nationwide, PM10 levels fell by 28.2 percent, from 39 µg/ncm in 2016 to 28 µg/ncm in 2024, well below the national guideline of 60 µg/ncm.
Meanwhile, PM2.5 levels in Metro Manila decreased by 37.6 percent, from 27 µg/ncm to 16.86 µg/ncm, while the national average went down from 20 µg/ncm to 16 µg/ncm, remaining under the guideline value of 25 µg/ncm. These reductions signal a continuing trend of cleaner air, attributed to stricter vehicle emission regulations, better industrial monitoring, and expanded air quality surveillance.
The EMB credited these gains to continued implementation of Euro 4 fuel and emission standards, with 1,807 Certificates of Conformity (COCs) issued for compliant vehicles between 2022 and 2024. The agency is now pushing for a transition to Euro V standards, expected to slash particulate emissions by up to 95.5 percent.
In the industrial sector, compliance oversight has also strengthened, with 57 stack sampling teams accredited in 2024, increasing to 59 teams in 2025. These third-party monitors, coupled with real-time tracking via Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems (CEMS), enable the EMB to ensure tighter regulation of major polluters like power plants and cement facilities.
As of 2024, 113 Air Quality Monitoring Stations are operational nationwide, supporting data-driven decisions and public advisories during volcanic events and haze incidents. The EMB also announced that 65 percent of major urban centers met national air quality standards in 2024, exceeding the 62 percent target set under the Philippine Development Plan.
Looking ahead, the EMB is working to amend the Philippine Clean Air Act (RA 8749) to strengthen emission limits for key pollutants and reinforce efforts to build livable, healthier communities.
