SEN. Bong Go urged Filipinos to take extra measures against the health risks posed by the haze from fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) has been monitoring elevated concentrations in the country of PM2.5, or fine particles small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs.
As of Sept. 2, unhealthy air quality was recorded in several areas. Talisay City in Cebu and the DENR monitoring station in Cagayan de Oro City were classified as having “acutely unhealthy” air, while Naga City in Camarines Sur and Barangay Talisayan in Zamboanga City recorded “very unhealthy” conditions.
Batac City in Ilocos Norte, Bacolod City, Calinan in Davao City and Koronadal City were classified as “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”
Puerto Princesa City recorded a PM2.5 Air Quality Index of 228 on the morning of Sept. 2, placing it in the “very unhealthy” category. In Northern Mindanao, Iligan City reached an acutely unhealthy level, while Cagayan de Oro and Tagoloan, Misamis Oriental, reported higher levels of particulate pollution.
Koronadal’s AQI briefly climbed to 268.3, also considered very unhealthy, before improving later in the morning. Local officials advised residents, particularly those with asthma, allergies and respiratory or lung conditions, to limit their outdoor exposure.
The Department of Health has advised residents in affected areas to limit prolonged or strenuous outdoor activities, wear N95 masks or appropriate face coverings outdoors, stay hydrated and avoid unnecessary exposure to polluted air. Children, senior citizens, pregnant women and those with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions are considered particularly vulnerable.
Go, vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, said the situation underscored the need for accessible primary health care, particularly for vulnerable groups and residents in areas experiencing unhealthy air quality.
