Metro Manila areas have recorded “good to fair” air quality, according to the latest monitoring of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR’s)- Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).
As of 12 noon on Monday, Sept. 15, the EMB’s PM 2.5 monitoring stations recorded “fair” Air Quality Index (AQI) in Caloocan and Makati, 53 and 58 respectively.
Meanwhile, Parañaque and Pateros logged AQI of 17 and 36 respectively, which are classified as “good.”
PM 2.5 measures finer particles (2.5 micrometers and below) such as black carbon particulates from vehicle transportation.
EMB’s PM 10 stations, which measure slightly larger particles such as dust, reported that the air quality is “good” in the areas of Caloocan, Makati, Mandaluyong, Parañaque, Pateros, San Juan, and Taguig, having AQIs of 42, 37, 38, 16, 35, 36, and 47 respectively.
The Sulfur Dioxide monitoring station at Ateneo in Quezon City logged an AQI of 29, which is “good.”
Last week, smog covered the metropolis which alarmed many residents. Some local governments event opted to cancel classes in the respective cities as they feared that it was due to the volcanic smog (vog) observed at Taal Volcano in Batangas.
The DENR clarified that the smog observed in Metro Manila was due to emissions from vehicles and thermal inversion, saying the volcano has nothing to do with it.