ILOILO City – Air quality across Metro Iloilo returned to generally “good to fair” levels Wednesday morning, Sept. 2, despite persistent haze linked to forest fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, but authorities urged vulnerable residents to remain cautious after pollution briefly reached a level considered unhealthy for sensitive groups the previous afternoon.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) Region 6 said readings from its four Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAOMS) showed generally acceptable air quality as of 8 a.m.
The monitoring stations are located at the Garden of Love in Barangay Nabitasan, La Paz, Iloilo City; San Miguel Public Market in San Miguel, Iloilo; Pavia National High School in Pavia, Iloilo; and Oton Evacuation Center in Oton, Iloilo, said EMB officer-in-charge regional director Engr. Anne Marie Delariarte.
Engr. Shiela Marie Portillo, OIC chief of EMB-6’s Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement Division, explained that air quality classified as “good to fair” remains acceptable and does not require the issuance of cautionary health measures.
However, EMB-6 continues to encourage the public, particularly vulnerable individuals, to wear face masks outdoors because haze remains present over Iloilo City and Iloilo Province.
The latest readings marked an improvement from Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 1, when EMB-6 recorded a significant deterioration in air quality at its Garden of Love monitoring station in La Paz.
From the “good” category on Tuesday morning, air quality at the station climbed to “unhealthy for sensitive groups” at 3 p.m.
The classification means people with respiratory illnesses, including asthma, face greater health risks and should limit outdoor exertion.
Separate real-time monitoring at the Central Philippine University/Ungka station had also recorded a US Air Quality Index (AQI) of 116, classified as “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups,” with PM2.5 concentration reaching 41.4 micrograms per cubic meter.
Earlier EMB-6 readings at the Garden of Love station showed PM2.5 AQI increasing from 19 on Aug. 28 to 34 on Aug. 29, 41 on Aug. 30 and 70, classified as “Fair,” on Aug. 31.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) confirmed that haze believed to have originated from forest fires in Kalimantan has affected Iloilo and other areas of Western Visayas.
PAGASA-Iloilo weather forecaster Engr. Rolly Cuenca said the haze became thicker as the prevailing southwest monsoon, or habagat, helped transport particulate matter toward Western Visayas.
“Kahapon (Tuesday) may na-monitor but not that particular nga tam-an kadamol kag may tinion nga nadula. Pero subong (Wednesday) medyo nagdamol kay medyo nagpanaog ‘bi ang habagat naton,” Cuenca told Panay News.
He advised residents, particularly those with asthma, allergies and other respiratory conditions, to minimize exposure.
“Mas safe magsuksok mask agud maproteksyonan kita, especially sa mga persons nga may hika or may mga allergies, maproteksyonan ang aton lawas sa mga particles kay very harmful ini, especially sa may respiratory diseases. Kag likawan ang outdoor activities as much as possible. Stay indoors and always mag-monitor sang mga advisories,” Cuenca said.
Iloilo City’s Mayor Raisa Treñas also urged residents to take precautions against the transboundary haze.
“There is a transboundary haze coming from Kalimantan, Indonesia, caused by forest fires, which is currently affecting our country, including here in Western Visayas,” Treñas said.
“Because the particles are very fine and are being carried by the wind, this could cause coughing, throat irritation, chest discomfort and watery eyes, and it is dangerous for those with asthma and cardiovascular disease,” she added.
Treñas appealed particularly to senior citizens, pregnant women and people with existing respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses.
“We are appealing to everyone, especially vulnerable individuals such as senior citizens, pregnant women and those with pre-existing respiratory and cardiovascular conditions, to wear a face mask, preferably an N95, to help avoid the possible harmful effects of the haze,” Treñas said.
Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon said haze has also been reported in the first district municipalities of Tubungan, Igbaras and Miag-ao.
She said haze exposure could cause breathing difficulties, coughing from smoke irritation, chest pain, watery eyes and an itchy nose. It could also aggravate asthma and existing cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses.
“Ang aton panugyan, kapin pa ang extreme of ages – mga bata or tigulang – magtinir sa balay nila. Saraduhan ang puerta agod indi kasulod ang haze or dapya sang hangin. Kag kon puede, ang tela or curtain nga gina-usar medyo bas-on naton para nga didto matapik ang yab-ok,” Quiñon said.
The IPHO has begun an inventory of N95 masks that could be distributed to affected municipalities if necessary.
The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Region 6, meanwhile, advised residents to monitor official DENR-EMB air-quality readings and Department of Health advisories, limit prolonged outdoor activities in haze-affected areas, use well-fitting masks when outdoors, and stay indoors with doors and windows closed whenever necessary.
EMB-6 said it would strive to provide real-time air-quality updates through its Facebook page to guide residents in taking appropriate precautions as haze conditions persist./PN
