The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reported unhealthy levels of air quality in several parts of Luzon on Monday.
In an advisory, the DENR attributed the haze over some parts of the island to volcanic smog from plumes spewed by the Taal volcano but stressed that air pollution levels remain primarily due to emissions from motor vehicles.
The DENR cited data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, citing wind blowing from the southeast on Monday and away from the National Capital Region.
The agency said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has placed the Taal Volcano under Alert level 1 since midnight Monday.
Phivolcs reported 3,355 tons of sulfur dioxide emissions daily thus far and a plume height of 2,400 meters.
Also, the DENR said its ground-level upwind particulate matter reading of monitoring stations in Tagaytay and at the Batangas State University (BSU) in Pateros and Taguig, reported a fair level of air quality.
Its monitoring stations in Caloocan, San Juan, Makati and Parañaque City also reported good AQI.
However, its ground-level upwind monitoring stations in Tagaytay, BSU and Makati reported an unhealthy AQI as do stations in Caloocan, Pateros and Parañaque.
The DENR said residents in areas with unhealthy AQI values are advised to avoid heavy traffic areas. People with heart or respiratory diseases such as asthma should stay indoors as much as possible.
It said unnecessary trips should also be postponed and people voluntarily restrict the use of motor vehicles.
