MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang said the haze in several provinces in Mindanao is due to “equatorial winds” on the coattails of Typhoon Lando that inundated central Luzon last week.
Citing information provided by the state weather bureau, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the haze apparently didn’t come from the forest fires in Indonesia, contrary to what most people suspect.
Coloma also assuaged fears that the haze could possibly reach Luzon and affect Metro Manila, saying all concerned government agencies are doing all they can to prevent it from happening.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Science and Technology, Department of Health (DOH), and Department of Transportation and Communications are coordinating with each other.
The DENR also set up monitoring stations in Davao, Cotabato and Zamboanga
ga where the haze was detected, according to Environment Secretary Ramon Paje.
Paje also said environment ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian countries are cooperating to determine the best solution to contain the haze.
Coloma advised the public to be more careful following warnings from the DOH that the haze could cause respiratory diseases.
Health workers are prepared to distribute face masks.
State hospitals in Mindanao and Visayas are also ready to provide medical services to patients who would suffer asthma and cardiopulmonary obstructive disease because of the haze.