PH is now haze-free, says DOST-Pagasa

THE SUNSET was barely visible in the thick haze that covered the skies of Talaingod, Davao del Norte province, and blocked a view of the mountains. FILE PHOTO BY KARLOS MANLUPIG/INQUIRER MINDANAO

The Philippines is now clear of the haze caused by forest fires in Indonesia, the state weather bureau announced on Wednesday.

In a press briefing, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the haze which affected the country was triggered by typhoon Lando, which caused a change in wind direction over the past weeks.

“Nais naming ipaalam sa publiko na ayon sa pinakahuling satellite wind tracking system at maging visibility observations ng DOST-Pagasa, ang Pilipinas ay wala nang nararanasang haze na nagmula sa mga forest fires ng Indonesia,” said Raymund Liboro, assistant secretary of the Department of Science and Technology.

(We want to inform the public that according to the latest satellite wind tracking system and in the visibility observations of DOST-Pagasa, the Philippines is no longer experiencing haze from the forest fires of Indonesia.)

“Ang haze na nakaapekto sa mga bayan ng Mindanao at Visayas ay resulta ng pagpasok ng nakaraang bagyong Lando na siyang nagpabago sa direksyon ng hangin mula noong ika-14 hanggang ika-24 ng Oktubre ngayong taon,” he added.

(The haze that affected Mindanao and Visayas is the result of Typhoon Lando’s entrance which changed the direction of the wind from the 14th to the 24th of October.)

Liboro assured the public that normal atmospheric conditions will be experienced throughout the country as there is no existing weather system in the Philippine Area of Responsibility.

“Hindi inaasahang manunumbalik ang tinatawag na trans-boundary haze mula sa Indonesia dahil wala pang namamataan na weather system tulad ng isang malakas na bagyong maaaring pumasok sa Philippine Area of Responsibility na maaaring magpabago muli sa pangkalahatang direksyon ng hangin,” he said.

(We are not counting on the trans-boundary haze from Indonesia to come back because there is currently no weather system, such as a strong storm, that will enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility that could change the direction of the wind.)

Pagasa previously said the Indonesian haze has reached Mindanao and parts of Visayas, particularly Cebu, Palawan, Leyte, General Santos City, Davao, and Cotabato, which resulted in cancelled flights and reduced visibility. The Department of Health also warned of increase risk of respiratory infections and cardiac ailments.

Liboro said they will continue to monitor the trans-boundary haze to better inform the public on precautionary measures.

“Ang inyong DOST-Pagasa, kasama ng iba pang ahensya ng pamahalaan, sa ilalim ng NDRRMC ay patuloy na nagmo-monitor ng trans-boundary haze sa pamamagitan ng satellite tracking, wind modelling, at visibility observations upang makapaghatid-abiso sa publiko sa hinaharap,” he said.

(The DOST-Pagasa, together with the different agencies of the government under the NDRRMC, are continuing to monitor the trans-boundary haze  through satellite tracking, wind modelling, and visibility observations in order to give weather forecasts to the public in the future.) JE