𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐎𝐋 𝐎𝐍 𝐀𝐋𝐄𝐑𝐓 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐀𝐙𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐙𝐄
The Cebu Provincial Capitol has placed key offices and hospitals on heightened alert following reports of dangerous air pollution levels linked to extreme heat and trapped emissions, as part of a precautionary public health response.
Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro has directed the province’s 12 districts and four provincial hospitals to prepare for possible health concerns arising from hazardous haze that could affect residents.
The directive was disclosed by Provincial Information Office head Ainjeliz dela Torre-Orong in a media interview on Monday, April 20.
She added that the Capitol’s Emergency Operations Center, under the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, has been placed on 24/7 operations to closely monitor the situation.
Orong clarified that the move is purely precautionary and not meant to alarm the public.
“We don’t want to cause panic, pero mas maayo lang gyod andam ta,” Orong told the media.
She also said that the governor has requested updates from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) regarding current air quality conditions.
The DENR-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) reported that since April 17, 2026, Metro Cebu has been blanketed by a persistent haze, with data from the Talisay City Station highlighting a spike in fine particulate matter (PM2.5).
While the Air Quality Index (AQI) saw a slight improvement—dropping from 199 on Sunday, April 19 to 177 as of 8 a.m. on Monday, April 20—the situation remains critical, DENR-EMB said, classifying it as “very unhealthy.” Although the numbers are trending downward, the current PM2.5 levels continue to pose significant health risks, the bureau added.
To stay protected from the haze here are some tips shared by the DENR-EMB:
• 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗬 𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗢𝗢𝗥𝗦: Keep all windows and doors closed. Use air conditioning on “recirculate” mode if possible to prevent outside air from entering.
• 𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗗 𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗗𝗢𝗢𝗥 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗘𝗦: Avoid jogging, outdoor sports, or strenuous physical labor. PM 2.5 pertains to particulates small enough to go into your lungs if inhaled, thus the more you breathe, the more harmful it will be for your health.
• 𝗪𝗘𝗔𝗥 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡: If you must go outside, a standard cloth or surgical mask is not enough for PM2.5. Please use a well-fitted 𝗡𝟵𝟱 𝗼𝗿 𝗞𝗡𝟵𝟱 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝗸. /𝑪𝑨𝑷𝑰𝑻𝑶𝑳 𝑷𝑰𝑶
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