Cebu residents advised to wear goggles, dust mask due to haze

The Cebu City skyline is covered in haze that experts said reduced visibility from the usual 10 to 7 km in a phenomenon that neither environment nor weather bureau officials could explain in detail and with certainty. TONEE DESPOJO/CEBU DAILY NEWS

The Cebu City skyline is covered in haze that experts say reduces visibility from the usual 10 to 7 km. TONEE DESPOJO/CEBU DAILY NEWS

CEBU CITY—Wear eye goggles and dust masks. Stay indoors and keep your doors and windows closed.

These pieces of advice came from Engr. William Cuñado, director of the Environment Management Bureau in Central Visayas (EMB-7), after air in Metro Cebu was found to have “high particulate” contents that were dangerous especially to those suffering from heart and respiratory diseases.

“People should limit outdoor exertion especially those with heart or respiratory disease, such as asthma. They should stay indoors and rest as much as possible,” he said.

Cuñado said the haze was a combination of smoke coming from forest fires in Indonesia and local pollutants and was expected to linger in Metro Cebu area for a few more days because of very low wind velocity of 0.1 meter per second.

Data from the air quality monitoring which EMB conducted on Friday showed that haze particulates in Metro Cebu’s air had become denser now compared to last month.

Cuñado asked Cebuanos to be health conscious and pray for heavy rain that would cleanse the air of pollutants. Doris C. Bongcac/RC

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