More than 500 participants, including health professionals, environmental advocates, community members, doctors, and families marched from the National Children’s Hospital to the Tomas Morato Rotonda in Quezon City for the “Walk for Clean Air” campaign, Val Gonzales reported.
The activity aimed to push for every Filipino’s right to breathe clean air and encourage the public to take action against worsening air pollution in the country.
Melody Melo-Rijk, Regional Climate and Health Manager of Health Care Without Harm Southeast Asia, stressed that “clean air is not a privilege, but a basic human right.” She added that the march showed people are ready to demand stronger air quality standards, improved monitoring systems, and investments in sustainable transport, especially for vulnerable groups such as children.
Dr. Lannie Fofue of the National Children’s Hospital noted that hospitals see children daily suffering from asthma and other respiratory illnesses linked to air pollution.
Held in time for National Clean Air Month and National Children’s Month, the Walk for Clean Air campaign underscores the call to protect the rights of children and future generations to a safe, healthy environment. // Gaven Mitra
