Mask up, Iloilo: city air now ‘very unhealthy’ amid haze

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor and Mariela Angella Oladive

ILOILO CITY – The Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-6) is urging the public to wear N95 masks, double up on ordinary masks, or cover the nose and mouth with thick cloth as air quality in Metro Iloilo deteriorated to the “Very Unhealthy” level amid the continuing haze.

DOH-6 officer-in-charge assistant regional director Dr. Mary Pauline A.C. Gestosani said the N95 mask remains the agency’s preferred protection against the fine particles associated with haze.

“The recommendation of our health authorities is actually the N95 mask. We were already aware of this during the pandemic and what type of mask this is,” Gestosani said at the Kapihan sa PIA Western Visayas forum on Thursday, Sept. 3.

She added that those without access to N95 masks may wear two layers of their usual face mask, or use a sufficiently thick cloth as a temporary alternative to cover the nose and mouth.

Gestosani also urged vulnerable individuals, especially those with existing respiratory illnesses such as asthma, to take precautions and limit unnecessary exposure to haze.

For those staying indoors, DOH-6 advised keeping windows and doors closed as much as possible to keep polluted outdoor air from entering homes.

Air quality deteriorates

The warning came as Iloilo City recorded its worst air quality classification so far during the ongoing haze monitoring period.

The Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station at the Garden of Love in Barangay Nabitasan, La Paz recorded a PM2.5 rolling 24-hour Air Quality Index (AQI) average classified as “Very Unhealthy” as of 9 a.m. on Sept. 3, according to the Environmental Management Bureau 6 (EMB-6).

“Very Unhealthy” is the fourth of six categories in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources air quality index, above “Good,” “Fair,” and “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” and below “Acutely Unhealthy” and “Emergency.” PM2.5 refers to particulate matter 2.5 micrometers or smaller, fine enough to lodge deep in the lungs.

The reading marked a rapid deterioration at the Iloilo City station.

At 5 a.m. Thursday, the same station recorded a PM2.5 rolling 24-hour AQI average classified as “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.”

A day earlier, its readings remained within the “Fair” category at both 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The deterioration in Iloilo City also contrasted with readings from other monitoring stations within the Metro Iloilo Airshed, which report the coarser PM10 measure.

As of 9 a.m. Thursday, the PM10 rolling 24-hour AQI averages in Oton, Pavia, and San Miguel remained in the “Fair” category, indicating generally acceptable air quality during the monitoring period.

The gap was already apparent in the Sept. 1 monitoring results. While PM10 readings in Oton, San Miguel, and Pavia generally stayed within the “Good to Fair” range, the Garden of Love station recorded PM2.5 levels that ranged from “Good” to “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.”

The trend marked a change from late August, when PM2.5 readings in Iloilo City generally remained within the “Good to Fair” categories from Aug. 28 to 31, although an increase was recorded on Aug. 31.

With the Garden of Love station now registering “Very Unhealthy” conditions, EMB-6 advised the public to avoid areas with heavy traffic and prolonged outdoor exposure.

People with heart or respiratory conditions, including asthma, were urged to stay indoors and rest as much as possible.

The public was also advised to postpone unnecessary trips and outdoor activities whenever possible, and to minimize or voluntarily restrict the use of private vehicles to avoid adding to air pollution.

When going outdoors is necessary, people are advised to take appropriate precautions to reduce their exposure to particulate matter.

Smoke from Kalimantan

EMB-6 said the haze affecting several areas in the Philippines, including Iloilo, is possibly associated with smoke and transboundary haze from ongoing fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia.

Prevailing winds associated with the southwest monsoon have carried the smoke toward parts of the Philippines.

Forest and peatland fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra during Indonesia’s dry season have periodically blanketed neighboring countries in haze, most severely in 2015 and 2019, when smoke reached as far as Malaysia, Singapore, and southern Thailand.

10 Iloilo towns report visible haze

The Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) is monitoring haze reported in 10 areas in the province, although none had been classified as affected by the phenomenon as of 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2.

The areas where haze was visible or reported were Banate, Concepcion, Leon, Igbaras, Miagao, Janiuay, Calinog, Tubungan, San Dionisio, and San Miguel.

PDRRMO said the presence of haze does not necessarily mean an area is experiencing poor air quality, and urged residents to rely on verified air quality advisories from authorities.

The agency said it continues to coordinate with concerned local government units and partner agencies while monitoring the situation.

Health effects

The DOH warned that haze consists of polluted air mixed with fine smoke, dust, and ash that can trigger acute respiratory symptoms and eye irritation.

Exposure may cause coughing, difficulty breathing, chest pain, nasal irritation, watery eyes, and worsening of existing respiratory conditions such as asthma.

Residents were advised to avoid unnecessary and prolonged outdoor activities while haze is noticeable, particularly strenuous activities that increase the amount of air inhaled.

Children, older adults, and people with existing respiratory or heart conditions should take extra care and limit exposure when air quality deteriorates.

Anyone experiencing severe difficulty breathing, chest pain, persistent coughing, dizziness, fainting, confusion, or worsening asthma or heart-related symptoms should seek medical attention.

Authorities also urged the public to follow verified updates from the DENR-EMB, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, and concerned local government units.