The PDRRMO urged motorists and commuters to exercise caution, particularly in areas where reduced visibility could pose risks on the roads.
THE Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office Operations Center continues to monitor haze conditions through aerial drone observations, air quality updates, and coordination with concerned agencies to keep the public informed and safe.
PHOTOGRAPH courtesy of Iloilo pdrrmo
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ILOILO CITY — Haze has been reported in 10 municipalities across Iloilo, although authorities have yet to determine its exact source due to the lack of monitoring equipment capable of identifying particles in the air.
The latest data from the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) showed haze reports in Banate, Concepcion, Leon, Igbaras, Miagao, Janiuay, Calinog, Tubungan, San Dionisio and San Miguel.
Ret. Col. Salinas of the PDRRMO told GMA Super Radyo Iloilo that most of the reports were based solely on visual observations by personnel of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (MDRRMOs).
Salinas said the PDRRMO has yet to determine whether the affected municipalities have instruments capable of properly monitoring or identifying the haze.
He added that the PDRRMO itself does not have the equipment needed to confirm whether the phenomenon being observed is actually haze or whether it originated from wildfires in Indonesia.
The agency is currently relying on reports and information from concerned agencies, including the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
PAGASA earlier said strong southwest monsoon winds, or habagat, could be carrying smoke and haze from wildfires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, toward the western Philippines, including Western Visayas.
However, Salinas said authorities should also consider possible local sources of air pollution, such as vehicle emissions and industrial plants.
Amid the reported haze, the PDRRMO urged motorists and commuters to exercise caution, particularly in areas where reduced visibility could pose risks on the roads.
The public was also advised to follow health advisories from the Provincial Health Office and the Department of Health, including the use of face masks when necessary.
