Camille Naredo

Haze obscures the Metro Manila skyline on August 19, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

Haze obscures the Metro Manila skyline on August 19, 2024. PHIVOLCS Director Dr. Teresito Bacolcol earlier said that the haze in the metro could have been caused by local pollutants and not related to volcanic smog being experienced in towns near Taal Volcano. 

Unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups was recorded at stations in Caloocan City, Parañaque City, and Pateros, while Makati City logged a very unhealthy air quality level, based on air quality monitoring by the Environmental Management Bureau.

Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

METRO MANILA HAZE

Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175447380111220240819-metro-manila-haze-JC5916.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Haze obscures the Metro Manila skyline on August 19, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File"/>Haze obscures the Metro Manila skyline on August 19, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</div>MANILA -- Bacteria and viruses aren&#x27;t the only invisible threats humans encounter daily. While public awareness of unseen health dangers has increased—particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic—experts warn of a long-standing and often overlooked hazard: air pollution.According to the 2024 State of Global Air report, cited by the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health (ASMPH), air pollution was responsible for over eight million premature deaths worldwide in 2021. This makes it the second leading risk factor for early death, surpassed only by high blood pressure.The same report also revealed that 720,000 children under the age of five died as a result of air pollution-related illnesses, ranking just behind child and maternal malnutrition as a leading cause of death in that age group.Dr. Annelle Raphayette Chua, ASMPH&#x27;s focal point for environmental quality and health, noted that air pollution has become so commonplace that society often ignores it. &quot;Just because it&#x27;s always been there, doesn&#x27;t mean it should fade into the background,&quot; she said.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/2/4/air-pollution-fuels-lung-cancer-among-non-smokers-study-1710">Air pollution fuels lung cancer among non-smokers: study</a></div>At the heart of the problem are fine airborne particles, known as particulate matter (PM2.5). These microscopic pollutants are so small that, once inhaled, can bypass the body&#x27;s natural defenses in the airways.&quot;When these particles get past those barriers they can penetrate deep into the lungs and even cross the lung-blood barrier to enter the bloodstream. This triggers oxidative stress, inflammation, and cellular damage.&quot;Over time, exposure to PM2.5 contributes to a range of serious health problems, including asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cardiovascular disease. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified PM2.5 as a Group 1 carcinogen, the same category as tobacco smoke and asbestos.&quot;Many studies have confirmed that long-term exposure to PM2.5 significantly increases the risk of developing cancer,&quot; Dr. Chua emphasized.To put it into perspective, air pollution is responsible for:-- 3 out of 10 deaths from lower respiratory infections-- 3 out of 10 deaths from ischemic heart disease-- 5 out of 10 deaths from COPDDespite its invisibility, the toll of air pollution is undeniable—and continues to rise unless addressed with urgency and sustained action.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/4/plastic-pollution-grave-and-growing-health-threat-lancet-1646">Plastic pollution &#x27;grave and growing&#x27; health threat: Lancet</a></div><div> </div><div>-- Revealing the unseen -- </div>Breath Metro Manila, a coalition of technology experts and academic institutions specializing in air quality science, public health, and innovation, aims to raise public awareness about air pollution. Their goal is to make checking air quality in Metro Manila as routine as checking the weather.The group is working to expand access to real-time air quality monitoring, ensuring that accurate data reaches policymakers, healthcare providers, and the general public to empower communities and institutions to take evidence-based actions.Dr. James Simpas, Head of the Air Quality Dynamics Laboratory at the Manila Observatory, emphasized the importance of accurate and continuous monitoring.&quot;You cannot manage what you cannot measure. We measure long-term so we can understand the long-term impacts of policy decisions. It&#x27;s essential to know where pollution is coming from. Only then can we figure out what we can control,&quot; he said.According to data from the Manila Observatory, traffic is the leading source of PM2.5 pollution. This trend is especially evident during the dry season, when 57% of PM2.5 comes from vehicular emissions, compared to 21% during the wet season.&quot;As expected, the wet season helps wash out particulates,&quot; Dr. Simpas explained. &quot;But understanding the chemical composition of PM2.5 helps us trace its sources more precisely. That&#x27;s crucial for developing effective mitigation strategies and control technologies.&quot;Other significant sources of PM2.5 in both wet and dry seasons include construction activities, biomass burning, and ammonium sulfate.Dr. Simpas also stressed that air pollution is not bound by city limits. Air quality varies from neighborhood to neighborhood and changes rapidly over time emphasizing the need for hyperlocal monitoring.<div> </div><div>-- Measurements lead to better action --<img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/175447377530920240819-metro-manila-haze-JC6101 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Haze obscures the Metro Manila skyline on August 19, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File"/>Haze obscures the Metro Manila skyline on August 19, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</div>While the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) monitors air quality in Metro Manila, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) website reflects data from only five localities, leaving many areas without readily available public information.But the gap can be addressed through Node-S Air sensors which have been deployed throughout the region, offering an expanded network of air quality monitoring tools. These smart, scalable devices enhance the ability to gather localized, real-time data, which can be used to generate actionable health insights and inform effective policies.&quot;The fewer the data points, the greater the health risk—because we lack the information needed for sound decision-making,&quot; explained Engineer Ethel Garcia, Regional Account Manager of Clarity Movement, the company behind the Clarity Nodes.In Quezon City, for example, 40 Clarity Nodes have been installed. This investment has significantly improved the city&#x27;s understanding of air quality trends, helping shape data-driven policies that protect public health.One concrete outcome is Memorandum Circular No. 3, issued by Mayor Joy Belmonte in 2025. The directive provides a framework for responding to poor air quality based on the Air Quality Index (AQI) reported by the city&#x27;s Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability Department, in coordination with the DENR-EMB. Among its measures is class suspensions at various educational levels, depending on AQI alert levels.&quot;Air quality data is only powerful when it&#x27;s real-time, localized, and actionable,&quot; Garcia added.Experts believe that greater public awareness will eventually lead to both policy shifts and behavioral change. While they acknowledge the challenges, they emphasize that these goals are within reach especially through strong collaboration among government agencies, the private sector, schools, and civil society organizations.&quot;Let&#x27;s make air quality monitoring a normal part of daily life—just like how we check the weather or rainfall updates,&quot; Garcia urged.

While public awareness of unseen health dangers has increased—particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic—experts warn of a long-standing and often overlooked hazard: air pollution.

While public awareness of unseen health dangers has increased—particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic—experts warn of a long-standing and often overlooked hazard: air pollution.

Air pollution among leading contributors to premature mortality — expert

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Air pollution among leading contributors to premature mortality — expert

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 06, 2025 05:53 PM PHT

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