NEWS

GLOBAL NATION

BUSINESS

LIFESTYLE

ENTERTAINMENT

TECHNOLOGY

SPORTS

OPINION

USA & CANADA

BANDERA

CDN DIGITAL

POP

PREEN

NOLI SOLI

SCOUT PH

VIDEOS

F&B

ESPORTS

MULTISPORT

MOBILITY

PROJECT REBOUND

ADVERTISE

FOLLOW US:
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR DAILY NEWSLETTER
By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.
SUBMIT

It’s smog, not vog, in Metro Manila —but put masks back on
By: Dexter Cabalza - Reporter / @dexcabalzaINQ
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:20 AM September 23, 2023

DUE TO TOXICITY, NOT TAAL Smog thickly veils the Ortigas Center skyline as seen from
Circumferential Road No. 5 on Friday morning. Officials attribute the phenomenon to Metro Manila’s air
pollution. Air quality in the capital has been recorded at varying critical levels. —LYN RILLON

Authorities are now again urging the public in Metro Manila and nearby
provinces to wear face masks, especially outdoors, due to smog and vog
(air pollution from volcanic emissions) caused by the continued unrest of
Taal Volcano.
But both the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
(Phivolcs) and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) clarified on
Friday that the smog in Metro Manila was not caused by Taal, but, rather,
by the air pollution in the metropolis, coupled with a natural
phenomenon called “temperature inversion”—which basically traps
smog and other particulate matter closer to the ground.“

The smog [in Metro Manila] is not related to Taal Volcano. Instead, the
vog was over areas on the western side of Taal Volcano,” Phivolcs said.
ADVERTISEMENT

The EMB, an agency of the Department of Environment and Natural

Resources, said in a report on Friday: “Real-time air quality
measurements indicate heightened alert in some parts of Metro Manila,
primarily attributed to emissions from heavy vehicular traffic, especially
during rush hour.”

FEATURED STORIES
NEWSINFO

Former Marikina Mayor Bayani Fernando, icon of discipline, dead at 77

NEWSINFO
Smog in Metro Manila not from Taal Volcano – Phivolcs, DENR
NEWSINFO

LIVE UPDATES: Taal Volcano

Not related
The bureau also noted that Taal’s vog could not reach Metro Manila, as
surface and upper winds were “coming from the northeast direction
going to the southwest direction, or going away from Metro Manila.”

Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. also confirmed that
the smog in the capital region was not the vog from Taal.
ADVERTISEMENT

Nevertheless, he advised the public to wear masks when outside or, if

possible, stay indoors.

But authorities could not categorically determine when the smog in

Metro Manila would be cleared.

Air quality index

“Air quality varies in time and places and can change anytime depending
on pollution sources and meteorological factors,” the EMB said.

The bureau’s report still noted the health risks of air pollution in the
metropolis, specifically PM2.5 and other particulate matter, as detected in
the southern cities of Parañaque and Makati and the municipality of
Pateros.

PM2.5 are fine, inhalable particles with diameters that are generally 2.5
micrometers, or 30 times larger than the diameter of a hair strand.

Short-term exposures to PM2.5 (up to 24-hour duration) have been

associated with premature mortality, increased hospital admissions for
heart or lung causes, acute and chronic bronchitis, and asthma attacks.
These adverse health effects have been reported primarily among
infants, children, and older adults with preexisting heart or lung diseases.

Parañaque registered an air quality index (AQI) of 217—classified as the

fifth in a six-tier air quality guide—which is considered “acutely
unhealthy.” Lower numbers means better air quality.

Under this category, people are advised to limit going outdoors, especially
those with heart or respiratory diseases.

Makati and Pateros were monitored as having 128 and 141 AQI,
respectively—both considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”

DepEd order
Amid the poor air quality, only six of the 17 local government units in
Metro Manila—Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Pasay, San Juan and
Valenzuela—canceled classes early on Friday. The rest in the National
Capital Region suspended afternoon classes.

Sought for comment, Education Assistant Secretary Francis Cesar Bringas

said school heads should follow Department Order No. 37, series of 2022,
on the cancellation or suspension of classes and work in the event of
natural disasters, power outages and other calamities.

From northeast
While DO 37 has no provision on such phenomena as the presence of
smog, Bringas said a memorandum he signed in April gives school heads
the “authority and responsibility” to suspend classes.

This includes events “which may considerably affect the conduct of

classroom learning and put the learners’ health and well-being at risk.”

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

SIGN ME UP

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.
The memo was issued at the time when schools needed to suspend classes
due to extremely high temperatures in the country, which was previously
not listed as among valid grounds for the suspension or cancellation of
classes.

—WITH REPORTS FROM ABBY BOISER, KATHLEEN DE VILLA, KRIXIA SUBINGSUBING AND INQUIRER

Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1835667/its-smog-not-vog-in-metro-but-

put-masks-back-on#ixzz8E7S2SCpM
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook