Why nga ba?: DENR explains 'good' air quality in Navotas despite landfill smoke
By Jel Santos
(JEL SANTOS/MB PHOTO)
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Tuesday, April 14, explained why air quality readings in Navotas remained at “good” to “fair” levels despite lingering smoke from a recent landfill fire.
To recall, the Navotas City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) reported that “good” air quality levels were logged earlier in the day.
Lawyer Janice R. Pammit, the officer-in-charge of the Environmental Management Bureau–National Capital Region (EMB-NCR), said air quality data as of early afternoon showed generally safe levels across Metro Manila.
As of 1 p.m. on April 14, Pammit said all Air Quality Index (AQI) readings showed good to fair results across NCR air quality monitoring stations.
AQI data showed that both PM10 and PM2.5 readings in Navotas were at “fair” levels.
“All AQI shows good/fair results across NCR air quality monitoring stations (All AQI readings show good to fair results across NCR air quality monitoring stations),” she said.
Pammit noted that air quality readings may not always directly reflect visible smoke in a specific area, as several environmental and technical factors can affect results.
“Maaaring makaapekto ang wind direction, location of the air quality monitoring station, and source/pollutants sa results (Wind direction, the location of the air quality monitoring station, and the source of pollutants may affect the results),” she told the Manila Bulletin.
The EMB-NCR maintains multiple air quality monitoring stations across Metro Manila, which collect and process data before results are released to the public.
Pammit said that while localized incidents such as landfill fires may contribute to air pollution, overall readings can vary depending on prevailing environmental conditions and the distance of monitoring stations from pollution sources.
Around 11 a.m. on April 13, PM2.5 Air Quality Index (AQI) data showed “very unhealthy” air quality in Quezon City (Manila Observatory) and “unhealthy” levels in Quezon City (Commonwealth Avenue), Navotas City, and Malabon City following a landfill fire in Navotas.
On April 10, a fire broke out at the Navotas Sanitary Landfill, leading to smoke emissions that affected air quality in the city and nearby areas.