Gov’t monitoring haze in Mindanao

MANILA, Philippines – Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.  on Sunday assured that the government is continuously monitoring the haze situation in Mindanao.

Coloma noted that agencies such as Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), and local disaster risk reduction management councils are coordinating to handle the situation.

“Patuloy na tinututukan ng pamahalaan sa pamamagitan ng masinsing ugnayan ng DENR at DOST, DOH at DOTC, katuwang ang mga lokal na disaster risk reduction management council ang posibleng pangmatagalang epekto ng makapal na usok o ‘haze’ na sinasabing nagmula sa nasusunog na kagubatan ng Kalimantan region sa bansang Indonesia. Ayon sa mga ulat ng PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), ang pagkapal ng haze na naunang bumalot sa ilang bahagi ng Mindanao ay bunsod ng equatorial winds na pinaigting ng nagdaang bagyong ‘Lando,'" Coloma said an interview with Radyo ng Bayan.

Coloma said that according to DENR Secretary Ramon Paje, the agency is monitoring its stations in Davao, Cotabato, Zamboanga and other strategic locations to check on the ambient air situation there.

“Makailang beses pa lamang lumampas sa standard ang sinusukat na komposisyon ng haze sa mga naturang monitoring station,” Coloma said.

Meanwhile, the DOH also advised Mindanao residents especially those with respiratory diseases to wear mask as precautionary measure.

“Gayunpaman, pinag-iingat ng Department of Health ang mga may sakit hinggil sa paghinga o mga respiratory diseases na gumamit ng face mask kung nasa lugar na may haze. Nakahanda namang magbigay ng kaukulang serbisyo medikal ang lahat ng pampublikong pagamutan sa mga lalawigan sa Visayas at Mindanao sa sinomang magkaroon ng sakit o sintomas na kaugnay sa haze, at patungkol ito partikular sa mga mayroong asthma o cardiopulmonary obstructive disease,” Coloma said.

The Palace official added that Paje said the cooperation of ASEAN Ministers for Environment are also monitoring and updating each other on the haze situation.

Aside from the Philippines, the haze caused by forest fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia also affected Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore and Thailand.