On class suspensions amid poor air quality: capitol to set clearer rules

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro has called on concerned government agencies, health experts, school officials, and local government units (LGUs) to discuss air quality concerns and establish clearer guidelines for class suspensions amid worsening air conditions in Metro Cebu.

The Cebu provincial government will hold an open forum on air quality and class suspensions on Tuesday, October 20, at 3 p.m. at the Capitol Social Hall in Cebu, following also an increase in respiratory consultations.

The meeting will bring together pediatricians, pulmonologists, representatives of the Department of Education (DepEd), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), private schools, city and municipal LGUs, parent-teacher associations (PTAs), and health and disaster risk reduction officers.

The forum aims to clarify how air quality readings should guide decisions on suspending classes, when such suspensions should be considered, and how schools can continue learning activities while protecting students' health.

In a statement, Baricuatro said the provincial government recognizes the concerns of parents, teachers, and students over air quality and class suspensions, stressing that children's health and safety remain a priority.

Baricuatro said the gathering would provide stakeholders with an opportunity to discuss the available evidence, hear from experts, and work toward practical guidelines that would help communities make informed decisions.

Class suspension guidelines

The governor said the discussions would also cover the timely release of announcements so that families and schools would have sufficient time to prepare for possible class suspensions.

However, she clarified that decisions on localized class suspensions remain with the respective mayors, in coordination with education authorities and in accordance with national policies.

The provincial government intends to work with LGUs and partner agencies to improve coordination and provide clearer guidance on responding to air quality concerns.

“Ang ato mao ang paghatag ug avenue for everyone to discuss, understand the evidence, and work towards practical guidelines,” Baricuatro said.

The planned forum comes as respiratory consultations at four hospitals increased by 26.8% in the third quarter of 2026 compared with the same period last year.

Data obtained from the Department of Health-Central Visayas (DOH-7) showed that the four hospitals recorded a combined 3,524 respiratory consultations from July to September this year, up from 2,778 during the corresponding period in 2025.

The increase has highlighted the need for closer monitoring amid reports of poor air quality in Metro Cebu. However, the available figures do not establish a direct link between air pollution and the rise in respiratory consultations.

At the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), respiratory consultations reached 1,217 in the third quarter of 2026.

The supplied hospital summary placed the number of consultations during the same period last year at approximately 956 to 996.

VSMMC recorded 465 respiratory consultations in July, compared with 300 in July 2025. Consultations in

August also increased to 405 from 285 a year earlier.

The number declined to 347 in September, from 411 during the same month last year.

Pneumonia was the leading specific diagnosis in VSMMC's third-quarter figures, accounting for 530 consultations. The hospital recorded 221 cases in July, 157 in August, and 152 in September.

Other recorded conditions included bronchitis, with 106 cases; nasopharyngitis and tracheitis, with 101 combined cases; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with 89 cases; and asthma, with 47 cases.

The hospital data provide a snapshot of respiratory consultations but do not establish whether the illnesses were caused or aggravated by air pollution.

Air quality advisory

In its air quality update as of 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 17, the DENR-EMB Central Visayas classified Metro Cebu's air quality index (AQI) at 128, or “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

The agency identified localized emission sources, particularly motor vehicles, industrial operations, and area-specific activities, as the main drivers of current air quality levels.

Unfavorable weather conditions, including low temperatures overnight and in the early morning, as well as very low wind speeds, were also contributing to the suspension and trapping of fine particulate matter.

At a separate monitoring station in Barangay Cabitoonan, Toledo City, the AQI was recorded at 10, which was classified as “good.”

The EMB advised people with respiratory illnesses, including asthma, to limit outdoor exertion. It also encouraged the public to monitor official air quality updates and advisories.

The DOH-7 has also urged residents to limit outdoor activities, particularly prolonged exposure to polluted air, and to keep indoor spaces clean and well-ventilated.

Those who need to go outside, especially members of vulnerable groups, were advised to wear properly fitted N95 or KN95 masks when necessary.

Residents experiencing severe coughing or difficulty breathing were urged to seek medical attention. The health department also said health facilities in the region had measures in place in case the haze led to an influx of patients experiencing breathing difficulties.

Fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, can penetrate deep into the lungs and contribute to health problems, including coughing, breathing difficulties, and irritation of the eyes and throat. (CEBU NEWS)