DENR: Philippines remains free from Indonesian haze

CEBU, Philippines - The smog from the wildfires in Sumatra, Indonesia has not yet penetrated the Philippines, according to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Eddie Llamedo, DENR-7 spokesperson, said there have been no traces of haze from Sumatra in the country based on the latest monitoring report from the Environmental Management Bureau of DENR in Manila.

He said it is quite “impossible” that the smoke could reach as far as the Philippines with a distance of over 2,700 kilometers from Sumatra. Other aspects being considered are smoke’s “velocity and its dispersion level.”

He noted that not all areas in the country are enveloped by the light to moderate smoke, but only few of them.

“Thereby, it is only an isolated case,” he said, adding that hazy condition can be attributed to climate change.

But to determine what is being experienced here, EMB-7 yesterday deployed air quality monitoring team to get smoke samples from the upland barangays of Cebu City.

The samples were taken at noon time and past 4 in the afternoon using high-volume telemetry, a wireless transmission and reception of measured quantities for the purpose of remotely monitoring environmental conditions or equipment parameters.

According to Llamedo, the device can also capture air pollutants, particulate matters and total suspended particles to analyze the quality of air.

The results will be released on Monday.

Llamedo said they closely monitor the situation while waiting for the result.

At present, Llamedo said ambient air quality in Cebu is still safe with a rating between “fair to good” with 70 to 110 micrograms per normal cubic meter.

“Bad” air quality exceeds the 110 micrograms per normal cubic meter.

“Rest assured that we are still breathing a healthy, safe and clean air,” he said.

His assurance was based on readings of four air quality monitoring stations for total suspended particulates (TSP) based at the DENR compound in Banilad and at Cornilla Lao Residence in the boundary of Barangays Inoburan and Langtad in the City of Naga.

Monitoring of finer particulates (PM10), on the other hand, is done by devices placed at Mabolo Police Station and at the Cebu Business Park in Cebu City.

Meanwhile, PAGASA is still waiting for the response of the Asean Specialized Meteorological Center based in Singapore about the reported haze situation in Metro Cebu, Cebu Province, Siquijor, Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Davao City and Palawan Island. — Kristine B. Quintas/LPM (FREEMAN)