ADVISORY issued on Tuesday, April 21, regarding the air quality in Metro Cebu. (EMB-7)
CEBU CITY – The persistent haze that blanketed Metro Cebu in the past few days has started to thin.
“We are seeing a significant improvement in the air quality across Metro Cebu,” the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Natural Resources-Central Visayas said in an advisory on Tuesday, April 21.
The bureau reported that the Air Quality Index (AQI) has dropped to 139 after a high of 199.
The haze was observed since last week.
The EMB said the improvement was attributed to a notable increase in local wind speeds.
“Higher wind speeds have facilitated the dispersion of trapped particulate matter, helping to break up the stagnant air mass and move pollutants away from the metropolitan area,” the EMB said.
Because of natural ventilation, the air quality classification has been downgraded from "very unhealthy" to "unhealthy for sensitive groups.”
While the increased wind is helping clear the skies, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) still remains on levels that require caution, the EMB added.
High-risk individuals were reminded to use well-fitted N95 or KN95 mask when outdoors until levels reach the "moderate" or "good" range.