ON THE RIGHT TRACK An evaluation on the effectiveness of the implementation of the fuel quality specification provision of the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999

Abstract

Protection of the environment has been one of the major concerns today not only of the civil society but also the various states around the world. Governments have become very active in legislating different policies in response to the issue of environmental degradation due to industrialization, urbanization and modernization. The Philippine Congress, in its case has enacted several laws pertaining to all types of pollution. One of which is RA 8749, otherwise known as the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 (PCAA). This study focuses on the implementation of a particular provision of the said law that dictates the specifications of gasoline and diesel for the next four to five years after its implementation. Basically, the researcher assessed the effectiveness of the implementation according to three determinants - program for implementation with system of incentives and sanctions, compliance of the stakeholders and accomplishment of the time table set forth by the law. Moreover, part of this study’s objective is to assess if there is improvement in the quality of fuel pre and post-PCAA as well as examine if the improvement will transcend on a macro level - the improvement of the quality of air in the Metro Manila airshed.