CAGAYAN de Oro City — Haze from forest and land fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, continued to affect parts of Northern Mindanao, with air-quality readings worsening in Cagayan de Oro and El Salvador City on Sept. 24.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) said in its 8 a.m. air-quality update Thursday that prevailing winds were continuing to carry smoke from Kalimantan toward the Philippines.

In Cagayan de Oro, the monitoring station recorded Fair air quality for both PM10 and PM2.5 on Sept. 24. PM10 had been rated Good the previous day, while PM2.5 remained Fair.

In El Salvador City, Misamis Oriental, PM10 also declined from Good to Fair, while PM2.5 worsened from Fair to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.

PM2.5 refers to fine particles small enough to penetrate deep into the respiratory system, while PM10 consists of larger inhalable particles.

The DENR-EMB said baseline concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 remain within Good to Fair guideline values in many areas, but monitoring has shown an increasing trend in particulate levels this month.

Earlier monitoring by EMB Region 10 also detected elevated PM2.5 levels in Cagayan de Oro and Tagoloan linked to transboundary smoke from Kalimantan.

The Metro Cagayan de Oro Airshed, which covers Cagayan de Oro, El Salvador, Opol, Tagoloan, Villanueva and Jasaan, is being monitored by EMB Region 10 and partner agencies.

What residents can do

The DENR-EMB advised residents in areas affected by haze to limit prolonged or strenuous outdoor activities, especially when haze is visibly present.

Children, senior citizens and people who are sensitive to air pollution should minimize exposure, the agency said.

Those who need to go outdoors during visibly hazy conditions are encouraged to wear a properly fitted N95 mask or equivalent.

The DENR-EMB said it will continue monitoring air quality through its Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations in Northern Mindanao and urged the public to follow official air-quality updates.

Photo: An air-monitoring station of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region 10. Photo supplied.