Mandaue Health Office Sounds Alarm Anew Over Haze
MANDAUE CITY, Cebu — The city health office here is again warning the public against haze, after fine particles known as PM2.5 were flagged as a threat to the lungs and the heart.
In an advisory posted under the hashtags #ONEMandaue and #mandauehealth, the Mandaue City Health Office (MCHO) told residents to limit going out of their homes, wear a properly-fitted N95 mask if they really have to step outside, and keep watch on the air quality inside their houses. Children, senior citizens, pregnant women, and those with asthma or heart and lung ailments were told to take extra precautions.
The advisory did not state where the current haze is coming from, or how bad it already is in the city. But for Cebu, this is not the first time this year that the public has had to deal with this kind of problem.
Second Haze Episode This Year
Metro Cebu already experienced a haze episode back in April. Air quality started to deteriorate on April 13, reaching "unhealthy for sensitive groups" by April 17, before the Air Quality Index (AQI) peaked at 199 — "very unhealthy" — at the Talisay City Hall monitoring station on April 19. The Environmental Management Bureau in Central Visayas (EMB-7) attributed that episode to local sources — vehicle exhaust, road dust, industrial activity, and small-scale burning — worsened by weak winds that trapped the pollutants near the ground. It was only on April 22, after stronger winds picked up, that air quality eased back to "fair."
This time, the haze hitting Cebu is of a different kind altogether. According to reports, the smoke is transboundary in nature, coming from forest and peatland fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, and carried over by the southwest monsoon, or habagat, since late August. On September 1 and 2, the AQI at the same Talisay station rose to between 152 and 173, again landing in the "very unhealthy" bracket. Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, chairman of the city's disaster risk reduction and management council, confirmed that the smoke from Indonesia had already reached Cebu, as well as Luzon and other parts of the Visayas. Metro Manila, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, and Iloilo also reported haze around the same period, with some stations in the capital hitting "acutely unhealthy" levels.
For its part, Indonesia's weather bureau has said it does not expect rains strong enough to put out the fires until November or December, meaning the haze problem may not clear up anytime soon.
Two haze episodes, two different causes, but the same public health concern — fine particles that pose a bigger risk to the very young, the elderly, and those with weak lungs or hearts.
What The Advisory Asks the Public to Do
Limit outdoor exposure, particularly when pollution is high. Keep doors and windows closed to prevent haze from getting inside.
Wear the proper mask. An N95 respirator, properly worn, is advised for those who need to go outside. Cloth and surgical masks give less protection against fine particles.
Keep indoor air clean. Use a HEPA air purifier if available, and avoid smoking and burning candles or incense indoors.
Drink enough water to prevent dehydration and to help keep the mucous membranes moist.
Give extra attention to vulnerable groups — children, senior citizens, pregnant women, and those with asthma or heart and lung disease — who are advised to avoid strenuous outdoor activity.
Seek medical attention immediately for persistent cough, difficulty breathing, chest pain or tightness, or severe eye irritation.
As of this writing, the advisory carries no specific date, time, or venue — it stands as a general reminder to the public for as long as the haze condition continues.
📌 Quick Summary
What: Health advisory against haze issued by the Mandaue City Health Office
Where: Mandaue City, Cebu
When: Ongoing, for as long as haze conditions persist (no date specified in the advisory)
Who benefits: The public, particularly children, senior citizens, pregnant women, and those with lung or heart conditions
Source: Mandaue City Health Office (MCHO), via official advisory posted on social media