Over 850 people sought medical aid due to vog — OCD

DUE TO TOXICITY, NOT TAAL Smog thickly veils the Ortigas Center skyline as seen from Circumferential Road No. 5 in the morning of Sept. 22, 2023. Officials attribute the phenomenon to Metro Manila’s air pollution. Air quality in the capital has been recorded at varying critical levels. INQUIRER file photo / LYN RILLON

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 850 people sought medical help after being affected by the Taal Volcano’s smog or “vog,” according to Office of Civil Defense (OCD)  Joint Information Center Head Diego Mariano on Thursday.

Taal Volcano is currently under Alert Level 1, according to the latest bulletin from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. It has been emitting vog since the first week of September.

READ: Smog in Metro Manila not from Taal Volcano – Phivolcs, DENR

“Kung bibilangin po natin iyong apektado o iyong mga nagpakonsulta dahil dito sa volcanic fumes o vog na nalanghap nila ‘no, mayroon po tayong mahigit 850 na indibidwal ang nagpakonsulta ng medikal dahil nakaramdam ng mga sakit pang-respiratory dahil sa hirap huminga dahil dito sa volcanic fumes ‘no,” said Mariano on the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon Public Briefing.

READ: DOH issues reminders on how to avoid smog hazards

(If we count those affected or those who sought consultation because of the volcanic fumes or inhaled vog, we have more than 850 people who sought respiratory medical consultations due to difficulty breathing because of volcanic fumes.)

Mariano said that local government units in the Batangas and surrounding areas are responding.

“Lahat naman ng kanilang pangangailangan, medikal o anumang assistance na kinakailangan nila is tinutugunan naman ng pamahalaan at lalung-lalo ng ating local governments,” said Mariano.

(All of their needs, medical or whatever assistance they need, are being taken care of by the government, especially the local governments.)

JPV/abc