CALOOCAN, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa (Bilibid), and Parañaque (Don Bosco) and Parañaque (PEATC) air quality monitoring sites recorded poor air quality, considered to be very unhealthy, the Environmental Management Bureau-National Capital Region reported.
Air Quality Index in the said cities recorded AQI between 151-200 in terms of PM 2.5. Las Piñas recorded the highest at 174, and Parañaque (Don Bosco) recorded 170, according to an Air Quality Monitoring report as of 12 p.m. on September 30, the bureau said.
PM 2.5 refers to fine atmospheric particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller, which is roughly 30 times smaller than a human hair.
The rest of NCR, including Makati, Mandaluyong, Manila, Marikina (Parang and CEMO), Muntinlupa (Filinvest), Navotas, Pasay, Pateros, Quezon City (Ateneo), San Juan City, Tauig and Valenzuela recorded AQI between 101-150, or unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.
EMB-NCR advised the public visiting areas with poor air quality to wear a mask for protection, preferably an N95 mask.
‘Meanwhile, if you live within or near these areas, it is best to stay indoors or limit outdoor time,’ the bureau added.
The EMB-NCR said that for those who belong to the sensitive group, which includes children, the elderly, and pregnant, ‘it is best to observe how you feel and adjust your activities.’