Local haze affects Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - The Environmental Management Bureau-7 has declared that Metro Cebu is now free from the haze coming from Indonesia but warned that a weather disturbance may bring it back.

  “Yes, we no longer have haze coming from Indonesia but we do still have local haze,” said Rachale Ybanez, EMB-7 spokesperson.

Ybanez said that Metro Cebu will always have haze because of high level of pollution coming from vehicle emissions, factories, and infrastructure projects such as roads and buildings.

 “That is why we have to minimize pollution. Mura og for life na gyud ning atong haze diri if di nato ma- minimize ang atong pollution,” Ybanez said.

 Eddie Llamedo, information officer of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7, said that they continue to monitor the situation.

   “We also encourage our emission testing centers to seriously and judiciously discharge their functions in conducting emission testing,” Llamedo said.

PAGASA-Cebu acting chief Al Quiblat said that as far as the weather bureau is concerned, Cebu is already free from haze. Quiblat said they made the declaration together with the Department of Science and Technology  the other day.

  “Wala na tay haze gikan sa Indonesia. Local haze ning atoa karon  nga usually gikan sa emission sa mga sakyanan ug mga factories,” Quiblat added. (FREEMAN)