Air quality shifts from ‘very unhealthy’ to ‘fair’

CEBU, Philippines — Air quality in Metro Cebu has improved significantly from “very unhealthy” on September 1 to “fair” as of September 16, with the latest monitoring showing better conditions in both Metro Cebu and Toledo City.

The Environmental Management Bureau Region VII (EMB-7) recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 57 in Metro Cebu as of 7 a.m. on September 16, classified as fair.

Meanwhile, the Barangay Cabitoonan monitoring station in Toledo City recorded an AQI of 17, classified as good.

The latest figures indicate a substantial change from the beginning of the month, when Metro Cebu recorded an AQI of 173 on September 1, classified as very unhealthy.

Air quality further deteriorated over the next two days, with the AQI reaching 208 on September 2 and peaking at 251 on September 3, both classified as acutely unhealthy.

The September 3 reading of 251 was the highest recorded AQI in Metro Cebu during the September 1 to 16 monitoring period.

The air quality remained poor on September 4, with AQI readings of 202 at 7 a.m. and 197 at 11 a.m., before improving to 159 on September 5.

From September 6 to 9, the AQI gradually declined but remained within the unhealthy for sensitive groups category.

Metro Cebu recorded AQI readings of 126 to 136 on September 6, 143 on September 7, 121 on September 8, and 116 on September 9.

A marked improvement was recorded on September 10, when the AQI dropped to 86, classified as fair.

It remained fair on September 11 at 97, but air quality deteriorated again on September 12 when the AQI rose to 154, classified as very unhealthy.

The improvement resumed over the following days, with Metro Cebu recording an AQI of 84 on September 13, 73 on September 14, 78 on September 15, and 57 as of 7 a.m. on September 16.

The September 16 reading represents a 116-point, or about 67 percent, improvement from the AQI of 173 recorded on September 1.

Meanwhile, air quality in Toledo City also showed a substantial improvement during the monitoring period.

The Barangay Cabitoonan station recorded an AQI of 113, classified as unhealthy for sensitive groups, on September 4. The reading improved to 79 later that day and further declined to 44 on September 5.

The station subsequently recorded AQIs of 47 on September 6, 48 on September 7, 33 on September 10, 28 on September 11, 25 on September 13, 20 on September 14, 10 on September 15, and 17 as of 7 a.m. on September 16, all classified as good.

EMB-7 has been closely monitoring the air quality amid the haze affecting the region, which authorities earlier associated with transboundary smoke and fine particulate matter from forest and wildfire activity in Indonesia.

Prevailing weather conditions, including southwest monsoon winds, can influence the movement and concentration of particulate matter and result in fluctuations in air quality.

Despite the significant improvement, EMB-7 continues to advise the public to monitor official air quality updates and take appropriate precautions whenever pollution levels rise. — /MRM (FREEMAN)