Metro Manila chokes under acutely unhealthy air quality from Indonesian fires

Manila — Air quality across parts of Metro Manila deteriorated to acutely unhealthy levels Tuesday afternoon, with authorities attributing the dangerous pollution to transboundary haze originating from ongoing forest fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) confirmed that multiple cities in the National Capital Region were experiencing severe air quality degradation due to the lingering smoke.

The acutely unhealthy classification indicates that the air pollution has reached levels that pose immediate health risks to the general population, particularly vulnerable groups including children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory conditions. Residents in affected areas have been advised to minimize outdoor activities and take necessary precautions to protect their health.

The transboundary air pollution has become a recurring seasonal challenge for the Philippines, as Indonesian wildfires during dry months regularly send smoke across maritime borders. The DENR-EMB continues to monitor air quality conditions across the capital region and is expected to provide updated advisories as atmospheric conditions change.

Authorities have not yet specified which Metro Manila cities are most severely affected or provided forecasts on when air quality improvements might be expected.