EMB: Cebu, Zambo’s air beyond safe due to ‘smaze’

MANILA, Philippines – The Environment Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Monday confirmed the dust particles in Cebu and Zamboanga’s air are now beyond safe limits or contained air pollutants as the combination of smoke and haze or “smaze” continues to prevail.

In tests conducted, both Cebu and Zamboanga’s particulate matter exceeded the 75 micrograms per cubic meter (MCM) limit allowable in accordance with the National Ambient Air Quality Guideline Vaues of the Philippine Clean Air Act.

EMB Region 7 Director William Cuñado said based on the test last Sunday, the amount of small dust particles or particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometers in diameter in Cebu’s air reached 85.70 micrograms per cubic meter while the result from the air sampler machine established at uphill villages of Barangay Lanzones in Zamboanga showed that the 2.5 particulate matter gathered 77.90 MCM.

According to EMB ambient monitoring chief, the 10 particulate matter in Barangay Lanzones recorded 24.72 MCM that appeared to be fair if based on th 150 MCM under Clean Air Act.

“Meaning there was presence of air pollutants,” Ventura said of the area citing that Barangay Lanzones is 194 meters above sea level and has no presence of factory to pollute the air.

The particulate matter or PM are types of air filter gauges that are used by the air sampler machine to determine the air quality.

The air samples in Zamboanga were taken last October 23 to 24 after residents in the area started to complain of respiratory illness while Cebu’s air was tested October 25.

Cuñado said EMB Region 7 already sent letters and the latest ambient air quality monitoring data to the region’s governors.

Meanwhile, Zamboanga City Health Officer Dr. Rodelyn Agbulos reported of an increasing number of respiratory illnesses believed to be due to the haze.

He advised the residents of Zamboanga to wear the face masks especially those with asthma and other respiratory illnesses.

Cuñado  also advised the public to wear face masks and suggested to procure N95 masks and protective goggles available in pharmacies and hardware stores, respectively.

The EMB added that the officials may use the monitoring data of as guide in purchasing masks and protective goggles.

Cuñado advised joggers and those who exercise outdoors to prevent exercising outdoors as the smaze persist to overcast in the southern skies.

The smaze reported affected areas in Mindanao and Visayas, including Metro Cebu.