CEBU, Philippines — The transboundary haze affecting Central Visayas may continue to push up fine particulate matter levels as fires persist in Indonesia and prevailing southwest winds transport pollutants toward the region, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau Region 7 (DENR-EMB-7) said Monday.
Engineer Arthur Niño Calupig, EMB-7 air quality monitoring expert, said continuing fires in Indonesia and southwest winds could cause particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) concentrations in Central Visayas to rise again.
“As long as padayon pa didto ang sunog sa Indonesia, and the prevailing winds nato is southwest pa gihapon, so makasinati pa gihapon ta og posible nga pagtaas sa concentration sa PM2.5,” Calupig said.
He said haze movement is closely linked to wind direction and speed. From Sept. 18 to 20, wind trajectories at certain periods were directed toward Central Visayas, allowing pollutants to reach the region.
The FireEmission Watch animation also showed changes in the haze’s movement and trajectory as wind conditions shifted, explaining why air quality could temporarily improve before deteriorating again.
As of 11 a.m. Monday, the PM2.5 air quality index (AQI) at the continuous ambient air quality monitoring station in Talisay City, which represents Metro Cebu, was 189, classified as “very unhealthy.” Toledo City recorded a PM2.5 AQI of 101, classified as “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”
Calupig stressed that the decline from previous “acutely unhealthy” levels should not be taken to mean that the air is already safe.
He said the public should continue monitoring air quality because PM2.5 concentrations could increase again if conditions favor their transport and accumulation.
EMB-7 uses both hourly PM2.5 concentrations and the 24-hour rolling average in assessing air quality, but the measurements serve different purposes.
Hourly readings identify periods when PM2.5 levels peak, while the 24-hour rolling average is used for the public AQI advisory.
Haze affects other areas
Calupig said the haze was not confined to Cebu or Central Visayas, with several areas in Mindanao also recording elevated PM2.5 levels from Sept. 18 to 20.
“Dili ra kita ang nakasinati ani. Region sa Mindanao nakasinati pod, particularly katong mga adlaw, September 18, 19, 20,” he said.
Satellite-based information also showed elevated aerosol concentrations over Central Visayas, while some areas in Mindanao recorded air quality ranging from unhealthy to very unhealthy.
Calupig said PM2.5 levels could improve over the next two to three days, with rainfall potentially helping remove particles from the atmosphere.
However, he cautioned that any improvement could be temporary because air quality remains dependent on weather conditions, wind direction and the continuing fires in Indonesia.
The onset of the northeast monsoon, or amihan, could also improve air quality. PAGASA has projected its arrival around the second to third week of October.
“If that’s the case, hopefully, maarang-arang ang kondisyon sa atong hangin, considering the location and the prevailing winds nga gikan nato, so dili gyud kaayo ta maigo aning transboundary haze,” Calupig said.
City steps up health response
Meanwhile, Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival has directed the City Health Department (CHD) to intensify monitoring and response to haze-related health concerns, including the establishment of “fast lanes” at the Cebu City Medical Center for residents experiencing breathing difficulties.
The measure particularly targets residents with comorbidities and chronic respiratory conditions, while barangay health centers are also being directed to expand monitoring.
The City Council earlier passed a resolution urging the CHD and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office to heighten surveillance of respiratory complaints and strengthen protective measures in schools and communities.
The move followed reports from EMB-7 that Metro Cebu’s air quality had reached acutely unhealthy levels because of haze traced to forest fires in Indonesia.
Archival’s chief of staff, Kenneth Siasar, said the directive seeks to ensure immediate medical attention for vulnerable residents.
“Actually gipangusgan karon sa atong mayor ang pag-monitor hilabi na sa atuang panglawas. Gitagaan niya og direktiba ang atong City Health Department nga tagaan og fast lane… In the event magka-experience og gilisod pagginawa ang kini atong mga lumulupyo, especially kini atong naay mga comorbidities, katong mga nasakiton na, naay concern sa respiratory problems. So naay fast lane diha sa atong Cebu City Medical Center,” Siasar said.
He said some residents had sought consultations, but it remains unclear whether their respiratory complaints were directly related to the haze.
“Naay nagpakonsulta nato, but daan na man gud silang naay problem sa respiratory. So di pa ta makatumbok if it is directly related to the haze or other factors. Kay kini gung respiratory, multifactorial man ni siya,” he noted.
The worsening haze also prompted Cebu City to expand the suspension of face-to-face classes to college students. The suspension initially covered basic education but was extended to tertiary schools after air quality readings exceeded the threshold of 150.
“Actually, gi-extend na nato karon ang iyahang mandate. Giapil na nato ang mga estudyante sa college level. Giapil na nato tungod kay nisaka na man og maayo,” Siasar confirmed.
Neighboring Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Talisay cities have also suspended classes on Monday. — (FREEMAN)