The haze, which originated from the massive forest fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra, Indonesia, was carried by the southwest monsoon (Habagat), which has caused air quality to deteriorate in Davao City and other provinces, prompting health advisories that encourage residents to adopt protective precautions.
Monitoring records from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB XI) indicated a fair air quality at the Calinan Station for particulate matter 10 as of September 3, 2026. However, particulate matter was 2.5 and is deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups from August 31 to September 3, 2026.
Dr. Jeannie Marie D. Salmasan, District Health Physician of CHO told the City Information Office (CIO) told the City Information Office that current conditions do not require extreme measures or anxiety, but instead encouraged Dabawenyos to adopt safety precautions, limit unnecessary outdoor exposure, and prioritize family well-being.
“Atoang pwede buhaton to protect ourselves from the haze is pinaka importante is to limit the exposure. For those mga high risk nga population which is ang mga pregnant women, senior citizen, mga children particularly mga young children gyud or mga babies and those with pre-existing na mga lung and heart diseases, they are at risk man gud, so as much as possible limit your exposure outside. I-limit nato ang mga non-essential nga sige og exposure sa gawas labi na tung apil ka ato nga specific population (What we can do to protect ourselves from the haze is, most importantly, to limit our exposure. For high-risk populations, which include pregnant women, senior citizens, children, particularly very young children or babies, and those with pre-existing lung and heart diseases, they are at risk, so as much as possible, limit your exposure outside. Let's limit non-essential exposure outside especially for those in that specific population),” she advises.
Exposure to haze can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat, trigger coughing and asthma, and worsen pre-existing heart and lung conditions, while prolonged exposure can affect overall health.
To minimize health risks, Dabawenyos are encouraged to stay indoors as much as possible with windows and doors closed, avoid outdoor activities particularly for children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions and wear a fitted N95 or KN95 mask when stepping outside.
Dr. Salmasan also reassured Dabawenyos, explaining that while the current air quality is not ideal, it has not reached alarming levels. At the same time, she cautioned against complacency, stressing that haze can still affect overall health even in the absence of immediate symptoms.
“Do not panic. Dili lang ta mag panic because the level of air quality, although not the air quality that we want right now, dili pa pod siya that level nga grabe gyud ka alarming na mag panic buying ta og mga masks, dili man pod, so do not panic (Do not panic. Although the level of air quality is not the air quality that we want right now, it is not at a level that is extremely alarming to the point that we need to panic buy masks, so do not panic),” she said.
“However, dili ta maging complacent kay dili man pasabot nga nga wala tay nasimhotan or walay ginabati nga sakit, it means dili nata apektado kay pwede man gihapun ta ma apektohan ana. Let’s follow the advices and for those nga naa nay sakit daan, we also highly encouraged them to please take your medications (However, we should not be complacent just because we haven't experienced any symptoms or felt any illness, it doesn't mean we are not affected, as we can still be affected by it. Let's follow the advice, and for those who are already sick, we also highly encourage you to please take your medications),” Salmasan added.
Dabawenyos experiencing symptoms or health concerns are encouraged to visit their nearest district health centers or local barangay health centers for medical evaluation and care. CIO
📷 Contributed