Wear dust masks or eye goggles to protect yourself from air pollutants.
This is the advice of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (City ENRO) of the city government of Puerto Princesa after a change in Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded in the air quality monitoring station based in Palawan State University after the haze from Indonesia reached Philippine territory.
The office issued an advisory today, September 20, 2019. It warned especially those who have health conditions to stay indoors and as much as possible stay at home.
“Wear dust masks or eye googles to protect yourself from air pollutants and those with existing unhealthy conditions to avoid prolonged outdoor activities, stay indoors and keep windows and door closed,” the advisory read.
The City ENRO also advised the public not to jog or run outside as the body ingests more pollutants when active.
The advisory further stated that particulate matter (PM) 2.5 or a dust particle, which is smaller than PM10, stays longer in the air thus, it increases the chances of people to inhale it and penetrate deep into the lungs, and even into the circulatory system.
On September 18, 2019, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) warned residents of Palawan and Tawi-Tawi of poor visibility due to haze from forest fires in Indonesia.
PAGASA-Puerto Princesa chief meteorological officer Sonny Pajarilla said that there is low visibility especially at night due to the haze.
The haze has been reportedly observed in Puerto Princesa since Friday, September 13, 2019.