DENR: Cebu’s air still good

CEBU, Philippines - Air quality in Metro Cebu remains good despite the reported presence of thin haze from Indonesia fires and other pollutants, the Environmental Management Bureau-7 report revealed.

The ambient air quality monitoring report of EMB, an attached agency of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, showed that air quality here is still safe and continues to be within the range of either ‘fair’ or ‘good.’

DENR-7 spokesperson Eddie Llamedo said they cannot conclude yet if there is really a trace of haze (a slight obscuration of the lower atmosphere, typically caused by fine suspended particles) here.

But if it will be based on the recent air quality monitoring, there is none so far, he said.

GMA News Online reported about the presence of thin haze in the country based on atmospheric scientist Dr. Gerry Bagtasa’s analysis of satellite images.

According to Bagtasa, it was quite thin to be noticed due to several factors like the presence of pollutants and other particles, southwest monsoon, among others.

He explained that if there is a presence of haze, the air quality will be affected.

“It was based on satellite images but ours is based on the actual air quality samples,” he said.

But EMB’s recent report showed that air quality indexes are the same – between fair and good – since July this year.

Based on the October 1-2 monitoring results, four monitoring stations for the ambient air quality specific on the measurement of total suspended particulates (TSP) and particulate matter (PM10) showed that the agency’s 24-hour guideline value at 150, 230 and 300 µg/m3 with air quality indices ranging from 37 to 2108 µg/m3, which are still ‘good’. — (FREEMAN)