DOH issues advisory amid haze in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health (DOH) issued yesterday a health advisory in the wake of reports that haze from Indonesia has reached Mindanao.

The DOH said the haze, caused by forest fires, could trigger respiratory tract infections and heart ailments.

Health experts advised people, particularly the elderly, children and those with asthma or other pulmonary diseases, to stay indoors and wear dust masks when going outside their houses.

“Refrain from physical activities in heavily polluted areas. Exercise extreme caution when on the road to prevent accident (due to low driving visibility) and use headlights or fog lights. Motorists should follow the required minimum speed level,” the DOH said.

It also asked the public to stay away from low-lying areas where smoke and suspended particles might settle.

The department advised the people to consult a doctor if they experience difficulty in breathing, cough, chest pain, rheumy eyes and nose or throat irritation.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) confirmed that several provinces in Mindanao have a high level of air pollutants due to haze.

Joselito Ventura, DENR Environment Management Bureau monitoring chief, said residents of Barangay Lanzones in Zamboanga City have complained of respiratory illnesses.

City health officer Rodelyn Agbulos said they have yet to determine if the respiratory ailments were due to the haze.

Economic losses

Meanwhile, the government is still quantifying the economic losses brought about by the haze.

Mindanao Development Authority investment promotions and public affairs chief Romeo Montenegro told The STAR that there has been no official costing yet on the likely impact of the haze in Mindanao.

“But aggregate cost assumption is being determined for cancelled flights, slowing down of production and reduced business activities in certain areas in Mindanao where haze prevents people from going out,” Montenegro said.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) earlier said that haze has affected a large part of Mindanao, even causing the cancellation of flights in the region.

The DENR, Department of Science and Technology, DOH and Department of Transportation and Communications, and local disaster risk reduction management councils are now working together to deal with the situation.

The DENR is reportedly monitoring its stations in Davao, Cotabato, Zamboanga and other strategic locations to check the air there.

The local PAGASA office said that the haze has been noted to have reached Mindanao three weeks ago.

Compensation from Indonesia

The government was urged to seek compensation from Indonesia for the ill effects of haze on Filipinos.

Rep. Rodel Batocabe of party-list group Ako Bicol, who chairs the House committee on climate change, said the Department of Foreign Affairs should invoke an agreement among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on trans-boundary haze pollution.

He said the DFA should initiate discussions “on a possible loss and damage mechanism that can cover the worsening hazardous effects of the 2015 Southeast Asian haze which first hit the Philippines through its southern islands early last month.”

“An erring state, in this case Indonesia, should compensate states adversely affected by the pollution,” he said.

He added that the effects have included the cancellation of several flights to Visayas and Mindanao “due to the thickening smog, compromising commuters and business activities.”

“The air pollution crisis, which is currently affecting Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, southern Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia, poses a huge health risk to the country. It makes the already compromised quality of air much worse, exposing our citizens to diseases such as dizziness, fatigue bronchitis, asthmas, pneumonia, and cardiovascular ailments,” Batocabe said.

Weathermen have warned that the smog could reach Metro Manila, depending on wind direction.

He said this is also the opportune time for Congress to consider the passage of a bill similar to Singapore’s Transboundary Haze Pollution Act, which imposes a fine of $100,000 to $2 million on those guilty of conduct that causes or contributes to any haze pollution in their country.

He added that the issue should be brought for consideration in the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris. –  Sheila Crisostomo, Roel Pareño, Edith Regalado, Jess Diaz, Paolo Romero