THE GRAY skies over parts of Iloilo are not simply a case of bad weather. Smoke from forest and land fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, traveled across borders, carried by prevailing winds, bringing haze to parts of Western Visayas.
As of late, four municipalities in Iloilo Province—Alimodian, Miagao, Igbaras, and Tubungan—reported haze conditions, according to the Iloilo Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
And Iloilo City is not taking it lightly.
The Iloilo City Operations Center urged local folks to minimize exposure to fine particulates and continue monitoring air quality and weather conditions.
Mayor Raisa Treñas warned that the haze can cause coughing, throat irritation, chest discomfort and watery eyes, with greater risks for people with asthma and cardiovascular conditions.
The concern is not just what we see floating in the air. Haze contains PM2.5, extremely fine particles capable of penetrating deep into the respiratory system. For vulnerable people, exposure can aggravate asthma, chronic respiratory conditions and heart problems.
The Iloilo Provincial Health Office also warned of possible breathing difficulties, coughing, chest pain and other respiratory symptoms.
The good news? We don’t need to panic.
But we do need to pay attention.
The DENR-EMB Region VI reported that most Metro Iloilo monitoring stations remained within good-to-fair levels, although the Garden of Love station in La Paz recorded PM2.5 readings reaching the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” category. By Wednesday morning, readings had improved.
Still, prevention is better than treatment.
Limit unnecessary outdoor activities, especially strenuous exercise, when haze becomes noticeable. If you need to go outside, wear a properly fitted N95 or KN95 mask. Keep doors and windows closed when outdoor air quality deteriorates, and keep indoor spaces as clean as possible.
Children, senior citizens, pregnant women, and people with asthma, heart disease or other respiratory conditions should take extra precautions.
And don’t ignore serious symptoms. Difficulty breathing, chest pain, persistent coughing, dizziness, fainting, or worsening asthma symptoms require prompt medical attention.
There is an important lesson here: pollution has no passport.
A fire thousands of kilometers away can affect the air we breathe in Iloilo.
We cannot control the wind, but we can control our response.
So, Ilonggos, don’t panic—and don’t be pasaway.
Check the air. Wear a mask. Limit exposure. Protect your lungs.
Because clean air may be invisible, but its value is something we should never take for granted.