Four cities in Metro Cebu suspended in-person classes on Monday, October 12, after air quality in the area deteriorated to "very unhealthy" levels over the weekend.

The Environmental Management Bureau in Central Visayas (EMB-7) reported that the air quality index for fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, at its Metro Cebu station climbed to 155 by late Sunday morning and reached 180 later that day. Readings above 100 exceed the national guideline. At the bureau's background station in Toledo City, the air stayed in the "good" range.

Classes shift online

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival suspended in-person classes in all public and private schools for Monday and shifted them to asynchronous learning as a precaution. Talisay City Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr. suspended face-to-face classes in public elementary and high schools, leaving private schools to decide on their own, and urged residents to limit outdoor activities and wear masks. Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City also suspended in-person classes.

A week of poor air

The weekend spike capped a week of bad readings. The Metro Cebu station logged "very unhealthy" levels on October 7 and October 9, with a reading of 165 on the morning of October 9. On other days, the air hovered at "unhealthy for sensitive groups."

Local, not imported

Unlike in September, when smoke from forest fires in Indonesia drifted over the city, EMB-7 said it saw no pattern pointing to transboundary pollution this time. The bureau noted that the southwest monsoon has ended and that a high-pressure system over East Asia has changed wind patterns.

Instead, the bureau attributed the pollution to local sources, including vehicle emissions, industrial operations and other area sources. Cooler temperatures at night and in the early morning have created a "temperature trap" that keeps fine particles near the ground. The bureau also urged local governments to strictly enforce bans on the open burning of waste and to consider emission-reduction and greening policies.

Health reminders

EMB-7 issued the following advice while air quality remains poor:

  • Avoid areas with heavy traffic.

  • People with heart or respiratory conditions, including asthma, should stay indoors and postpone unnecessary trips.

  • Wear an N95 or KN95 mask if going outside cannot be avoided.

  • Seek medical help for serious symptoms.

The bureau warned that high PM2.5 levels may persist in the coming days, though localized rain could help clear the air. PAGASA has forecast scattered rain and thunderstorms over parts of the Visayas due to the intertropical convergence zone.