MANILA, Philippines ? The quality of the air in Metro Manila is improving but is still below the standards set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), a recent air quality survey revealed.

According to the Total Suspended Air Particulates (TSP) Air Quality survey, the air quality of the metropolis in 2008 was at an average of 138 micrograms of pollutants per normal cubic meter, way above the standard 90 micrograms per normal cubic meter set by the DENR.

The area with the dirtiest air is the stretch of Edsa, which recorded 282 micrograms. Coming second is Valenzuela City with 156 micrograms and third is the National Printing Office area in Quezon City with 144 micrograms.

Pollutants include sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO).

Actually, the air quality of the metropolis was improving from 2004 to 2007. In 2004, the average was at 160 micrograms, 154 micrograms in 2005, 142 micrograms in 2006 and 132 micrograms in 2007. But it rose again in 2008.

Jonas Leones, assistant director of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), said the rise could be attributed to an increase in the number of motor vehicles coupled with the stabilization of gas prices and the rise of construction sites.

?Storms can clean our air. But the pollution is continuous. Nature has a way to recover but we need to support it by reducing fumes,? Leones said.

He added the country has enough laws to protect the air quality, including the Clean Air Act. ?What we need is the political will to enforce the laws, especially at the local level.?

For the survey, the DENR set up nine monitoring stations, including stations in Makati City, East Avenue and the Manila Observatory inside the Ateneo University on Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City, Mandaluyong City, Pasig City and the Department of Health office in Manila.

The DENR also set up other monitoring stations in different urban centers around the country.

On the national level, the air quality was improving from 2004 to 2008, but levels are also still beyond the standard.

The survey said there were 139.2 micrograms of pollutants in every normal cubic meter in 2004, 127.4 micrograms in 2005, 110.5 micrograms in 2006, 103 micrograms in 2007 and 99.1 micrograms in 2008.