Localized rains in Cebu to persist this week as air quality improves

Local

LOCALED thunderstorms are expected to bring occasional rains to Cebu throughout the week, helping improve air quality in Metro Cebu, the state weather bureau said.

The rains, including occasional heavy downpours experienced in parts of the province since Monday, Sept. 21, were caused by localized thunderstorms, said Jhomer Eclarino, chief weather forecaster at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) Mactan station.

He said the wet weather is expected to continue for the entire week, adding that rainfall could help reduce haze by removing some airborne pollutants and particles from the atmosphere.

"If it rains, it can help reduce haze," Eclarino explained.

While the rains may provide temporary relief from the haze, authorities continue to urge the public to take necessary precautions when air pollution levels rise.

As of Tuesday, Sept. 22, the air quality index (AQI) in Metro Cebu had declined to 114, indicating a reduction in the concentration of pollutants in the atmosphere over the past few days.

The reading marked a significant improvement from the AQI peak of 296 recorded on Sept. 19, when air quality reached levels considered acutely unhealthy.

Despite the improvement, the Environmental Management Bureau- Central Visayas (EMB-7) continued to caution people with respiratory conditions, including asthma, to limit prolonged outdoor exertion.(RBE)