Air quality in Batangas has improved, as the volume of volcanic haze or vog continues to decrease, the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMO) reported on Sunday,
“Since yesterday, there has been a big improvement. No smog was seen. If there is any, it is very little because the gas emission was very light, as well as the height of the plume,” Batangas PDRRMO head Amor Calayan said in an interview with GMA 7’s Super Radyo DZBB.
The last time Taal Volcano emitted sulfur dioxide was on Friday, September 22, averaging 2,730 tonnes, based on the update today of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).
Upwelling of hot volcanic fluids in the main crater lake was also observed and the volcano also generated a moderate 900-meter tall plume which drifted northeast and north-northeast.
PHIVOLCS still raised alert level 1 in Taal Volcano due to low-level unrest. Zero visibility conditions were earlier reported in Tuy, Balayan, Lian, and Nasugbu in Batangas due to the vog caused by Taal Volcano’s activity.
Calayan reported that the Batangas PDRRMO is currently validating how many residents were hospitalized due to the effects of the vog, but said no people were confined so far.
“Everyone is managed well and were given immediate intervention,” she added.
PAGASA meanwhile said it is still advisable for Metro Manila residents to keep face coverings because of the consistent threat of pollution in the urban area.
PAGASA said the haze in the capital region is now improving, after an intense smog on Friday –caused by pollution– blanketed its skies and affected air quality.
PAGASA weather specialist Rhea Torres, quoted by ABS-CBN News, said that the haze could still be observed in Metro Manila, although it is not as harsh compared to the smog on Friday when health officials urged masking because of the health risks it posed.
She added that better air quality, at the very least, could be expected in the next few days.
However, she is not ruling out the possibility that a bad haze day will happen again as the occurrence of the thermal inversion cannot be predicted.