A Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS) has been established within the PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate to monitor air quality covering an area with a radius of approximately 4 kilometers (km.) to 50 kms.
Bannered by the Misamis Oriental Provincial Government, the CAAQMS enables the LGU Misamis Oriental, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Local Government of Tagoloan, and PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority (PHIVIDEC-IA) to continuously monitor air pollutants, enhance response to air quality issues, and support the implementation of programs aimed at achieving a cleaner and healthier environment, particularly given the presence of various industries within the estate.
The ₱22-million CAAQMS was funded by the LGU of Misamis Oriental, while the DENR – Environmental Management Bureau Region 10 (DENR-EMB 10) is responsible for the processing, analysis, and dissemination of air quality data to stakeholders in Tagoloan and Villanueva, Misamis Oriental. The station continuously measures critical air pollutants, including particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀) and gaseous pollutants such as sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O3), in accordance with EMB guidelines and in support of the implementation and enforcement of the Philippine Clean Air Act (Republic Act No. 8749).
Key details regarding air quality monitoring in this industrial area include:
Purpose: To conduct continuous ambient air quality monitoring, with data averaged over 24-hour periods, to evaluate compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Guideline Values (NAAQGV) prescribed by the DENR through the Environmental Management Bureau, pursuant to the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999.
Scope: The monitoring system covers the continuous measurement of key ambient air pollutants, with spatial scale representativeness ranging from neighborhood to urban scale, covering an area with a radius of approximately 4 km to 50 km, to support environmental protection and regulatory compliance.
Monitoring Parameters: Advanced sensors are utilized to continuously monitor real-time concentrations of particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅) and key gaseous pollutants, including sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O₃). The system also measures comprehensive meteorological parameters—such as relative humidity, wind speed and direction, precipitation, temperature, atmospheric pressure, and solar radiation—to support accurate data interpretation and air quality assessment.
The establishment of the CAAQMS was formalized through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed on June 20, 2025, at Brgy. Sta. Cruz, Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental.
The MOA signing was spearheaded by DENR Region X and the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental. Representatives present during the signing included Dir. Reynaldo S. Digamo, Regional Director of DENR-EMB Region X; Peter M. Unabia, Governor of Misamis Oriental; Atty. Joseph Donato J. Bernedo, Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority; Nadya B. Emano-Elipe, Mayor of the Municipality of Tagoloan; and Jan Bagani N. Casiño, Chairperson of Barangay Sta. Cruz.
This partnership marks a significant step toward safeguarding the environment and promoting the health and well-being of surrounding communities through the provision of reliable, real-time air quality data.
The participating agencies/LGUs share responsibility for contributing their expertise to the coordination, management, and maintenance of air quality monitoring within their respective jurisdictions. This agreement further strengthens collaboration among government agencies and stakeholders in support of programs that promote environmental protection and the conservation of a greener and more sustainable natural environment.
