Despite air quality improvement: Haze still over Metro – EMB-7

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Science and Technology said yesterday the haze from Indonesia that has blanketed the Philippines is moving away from the country but the Environmental Management Bureau -7 said this may not be the case in Metro Cebu.

“Ang situation karon kay since wa’y heavy rains, ang mga particulates are still in the area, nagbalhin-balhin ra until such time mouwan,” said EMB-7 Director William Cuñado.

He said that while the air quality in the metro has improved based on the reduced average concentration of particles, this does not mean the air quality is safe.

 “We cannot say we are on the safe side karon because of the erratic results for this monitoring report. Unless otherwise, we get constant results below 75 micrograms during our 24-hour monitoring report okay na. We still need to be aware and cautious,” he said.

Cuñado said the sudden changes of dust particle concentration can be attributed to the movement of the wind.

 He explained that the concentration level of dust particles can be registered as high because there is no significant movement of the air, however, if wind velocity is high, the concentration will be reduced.

The average wind speed recorded within 24 hours is equal to 1.8 meters per second.

 In a statement yesterday, DOST said the Philippines is now free from the haze originating from the Indonesia forest fires.

Landrico Dalida, PAGASA officer-in-charge, said this is based on their latest satellite and wind tracking system, as well as visibility observations.

With the current northwest wind flow, normal atmospheric conditions shall prevail, it said.

“The country may no longer expect the recurrence of the said haze in the coming days, unless with the development of another large-scale weather system like a typhoon inside the Philippine Area of Responsibility,” the statement reads.

Based on EMB-7 monitoring, as of 3 p.m. yesterday, the average of concentration of tiny dust particles with a size of 2.5 micrometers in diameter reached 39 µg/Nm3, which is within the allowable limit of 75 µg/Nm3 under the Philippine Clean Air Act.

Cuñado disclosed the haze may have reached southern Cebu, based on a text message he received, which said residents in Valencia, a mountain barangay in Carcar, are suffering from pain in the eyes and difficulty in breathing.

 Cuñado said they also received a report of the same nature from Bantayan Island but the same has yet to be verified.

 In the meantime, the residents affected were advised to use wet handkerchief to cover their mouth and nose as a mitigating measure.

 Cuñado continued to recommend that the public use the N95 dust mask and goggles, especially those with heart or lung diseases, children and older adults.

Advisories

Department of Health – 7 Director Jaime Bernadas said the smoke from the Indonesian wildfires is not as different from the locally-emitted pollutants such as combustion from engines, dust from unpaved roads, and garbage among others.

 Bernadas said the smoke from cigarettes is even more hazardous than the haze and this, as well as other natural pollutants, is something that the public should be more worried about. 

 Bernadas said that as of press time, there is no reported increase of respiratory ailments and pulmonary diseases related to the haze phenomenon.

He reminded the public to seek medical intervention immediately in the event the existing illness worsens or if one has contracted respiratory infection.

Cebu City health officer Dr. Daisy Villa also advised the public, particularly those who are vulnerable to the effects of haze and other hazardous pollutants, to stay at home, as much as possible.

  At the Provincial Health Office, Cynthia Genosolango said they are closely monitoring the haze situation in the province and have directed the 16 hospitals under Capitol to report immediately incidents that may have something to do with it.

 Genosolango said Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Chief Baltazar Tribunalo Jr. plans of purchasing two units of Environmental Beta Attenuation Monitor (e-BAM) to assess the air quality for real-time reports but the Provincial Board may have to pass an ordinance to this effect.

Each unit of e-BAM reportedly costs P1.6 million.

 In Lapu-Lapu City, health officer Dr. Rodolfo Berame said they have not recorded any haze-related incident as of yesterday. Monitoring is also constant, he said.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has said that the haze that reached parts of southern Philippines was the result of Typhoon “Lando” altering the prevailing wind patterns from October 14 to 24.

 PAGASA Mactan chief meteorologist Al Quiblat said the shifting of winds from southwest monsoon or Habagat to northeast monsoon or Amihan has affected the presence of haze in the country positively.

 “It’s a good sign. Kung kusog ang hangin, the haze will be blown back to Indonesia,” he said.

 The weather bureau has forecasted stronger winds in the next seven days and sunny days for the next five days. — /JMO (FREEMAN)