Transboundary haze from forest fires in Indonesia has become visible in ten towns in the province of Iloilo, according to theProvincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).
These towns are Banate, Concepcion, Leon, Igbaras, Miagao, Janiuay, Calinog, Tubungan, San Dionisio, and San Miguel.
“Poor air quality and reduced visibility may pose health risks, especially to vulnerable individuals,” the PDRRMO stated in its latest advisory.
Residents, especially vulnerable individuals, were urged to stay indoors, drink water, and put on a proper N95 or KN95 mask when outside their homes.
They were also told to seek immediate medical care if you experience severe or persistent shortness of breath, chest pain, ongoing coughing, dizziness, fainting, confusion, or worsening asthma and heart conditions.
Haze is an atmospheric phenomenon in which particulate matter (PM) accumulates in the air. This includes PM2.5, or particles measuring 2.5 micrometers or smaller in diameter—about 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair.
The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-6) said air quality across Metro Iloilo remained generally within acceptable limits this week, despite a brief uptick in fine particulate matter in La Paz.
Monitoring stations in Oton, San Miguel, and Pavia recorded good-to-fair conditions within the Metro Iloilo Airshed between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
However, the Garden of Love station in Barangay Nabitasan, La Paz recorded elevated PM2.5 levels during the same timeframe, reaching AQI levels categorized as “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”
The EMB warned that these levels posed a temporary risk to individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma, advising them to limit strenuous outdoor activity.IMT
