Monday, October 26, 2015

Government continuously monitoring haze situation in Mindanao



Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. has assured that the government is monitoring the haze situation in Mindanao.

The haze caused by forest fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, has already affected Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.

Secretary Coloma said agencies such as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), and local disaster risk reduction management councils, are working together to deal with the situation.

Ayon sa mga ulat ng PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), ang pagkapal ng haze na naunang bumalot sa ilang bahagi ng Mindanao ay bunsod ng equatorial winds na pinaigting ng nagdaang bagyong ‘Lando,’ Coloma said.

Coloma said DENR is monitoring its stations in Davao, Cotabato, Zamboanga and other strategic locations to check on the ambient air situation there.

“Ayon kay Secretary (Ramon) Paje, tinututukan ng mga DENR monitoring stations sa Davao, Cotabato, Zamboanga at iba pang istratehikong lokasyon ang ambient air situation na kung saan ang pamantayan o standard ay particulate matter (PM) 2.5 microns na kung saan ay natutunton ang pinakapinong usok na maaaring may elementong abo o carbon sa himpapawid. Makailang beses pa lamang lumampas sa standard ang sinusukat na komposisyon ng haze sa mga naturang monitoring station,” Coloma explained.

He said the Department of Health also advised residents, especially those with respiratory diseases, to wear masks as precaution.

“Gayunpaman, pinag-iingat ng Department of Health ang mga may sakit hinggil sa paghinga o mga respiratory diseases na gumamit ng face mask kung nasa lugar na may haze. Nakahanda namang magbigay ng kaukulang serbisyo medikal ang lahat ng pampublikong pagamutan sa mga lalawigan sa Visayas at Mindanao sa sinomang magkaroon ng sakit o sintomas na kaugnay sa haze, at patungkol ito partikular sa mga mayroong asthma o cardiopulmonary obstructive disease (CPOD),” the Palace official said.

“Ayon kay Secretary Paje, may umiiral na kooperasyon ang ASEAN Ministers for Environment hinggil sa haze at patuloy ang pagtutok at palitan ng impormasyon hinggil dito,” he added. (PCOO News Release)

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