- Vulnerable groups advised extra caution vs haze exposure
VULNERABLE individuals in localized areas in Digos and Calinan are advised to wear N95 face masks and avoid prolonged outdoor exposure as the air quality index reached the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” level.
Miralou A. Blanco, chief of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Davao Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement Division, said the vulnerable group refers to children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory conditions.
“With the air quality index dito sa Calinan, the AQI for Very Unhealthy is for the sensitive group; siguro sila ang at risk na to wear N95 mask whenever they go out or any appropriate mask to prevent aggravating health condition,” Blanco said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw on Monday, Sept. 7.
The official said the agency confines its direct public advisory strictly to air quality index classifications.
As of Sept. 6, Sunday, the Tagum Station and Malita Station recorded good to fair air quality conditions.
The Malita Station in Davao Occidental posted the cleanest readings among the four, with PM10 holding “Good” (36.9–46.5) and PM2.5 moving from “Good” (47.64) on Sept. 1 to “Fair” (74.44–76.1) by Sept. 2–3.
The Tagum Station, which reported PM2.5 only, followed an upward trend, shifting from “Good” (50.42–46) on Sept. 1–2 to “Fair” (51.25–57.5) by Sept. 3–4.
Meanwhile, Calinan and Digos stations still recorded fair air quality in PM10, but recorded unhealthy for sensitive groups in PM2.5.
At the Digos Station, PM10 levels remained in the “Fair” category through Sept. 3–6, ranging from 52.9 to 65.83, but PM2.5 readings turned “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” from Sept. 4 to 6.
It peaked at 112.9 on Sept. 5 before easing slightly to 107.5 by 11:00 a.m. on Sept. 6.
The Calinan Station recorded a similar but less severe pattern, with PM10 staying “Fair” throughout (72.9–88.9) and PM2.5 dipping into “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” on Sept. 2–3 (125 and 125.9, respectively) before improving to “Fair” levels of 100 and 81.5 by Sept. 5 and 6.
“The elevated PM2.5 concentrations may cause discomfort for sensitive groups, particularly children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory conditions,” the agency said.
When asked about air quality forecasting, the official explained that its current monitoring network operates on a real-time basis and does not give predictive forecasts.
Meanwhile, atmospheric dispersion can be estimated using prevailing wind directions.
EMB XI currently operates four ambient air monitoring stations: Tagum, Calinan, Digos, and Malita, but Malita is only for data sharing.
The station at Davao International Airport is currently non-functioning due to its outdated equipment.
Ambient air monitoring is also done in four sites in Davao City being the most populated area in the region.
“Altogether we have eight, but what’s giving us data right now is only PM 2.5 in Digos and Calinan,” Blanco said.
The official said it is also evaluating air samples to determine whether recent forest fires in Macambol, City of Mati and Pantukan, Davao de Oro have impacted air quality in the region.
The forest fire in Pantukan, Davao de Oro, last Sept. 2 has impacted seven hectares and damaged 73 trees, while the forest fire in Macambol on Sept. 3 impacted one hectare.
