By Christine Fabro
The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-Phivolcs) confirmed on Wednesday (June 30) that the haze that was seen in some parts of Metro Manila partly came from the Taal Volcano.
DOST-Phivolcs said in a press statement on Wednesday that the plumes extend from the planetary boundary layer or PBL, representing near-ground surface levels, to the upper troposphere at almost 20 kilometers above sea level and mostly spread over the Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan and Zambales provinces and the National Capital Region (NCR).
Separately, Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum, Jr. said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the timing of the occurrence of smog in Metro Manila and when the SO2 got dispersed from the volcano.
“It is clear that vehicle emission and other human activities significantly contribute to the occurrence of pollution in urban areas. (It was) clearly seen that smog was rising from the ground up. We could see this especially in the morning when smog was all over Metro Manila,” he said.
The pollution in Metro Manila due to vehicle emissions and other human activities was worsened by the presence of warmer air as a result of temperature inversion which, he said, started last June 26 and ended June 30 based on the weather bureau’s record, PNA reported.
Meanwhile, data from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) shows an improved air quality in most cities in NCR as of 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday.
Metro Manila Air Quality Monitoring System reported good air quality in North Caloocan, Mandaluyong, and Marikina.
Also included in the list of cities with good air quality were Taguig, Parañaque, Makati, and Pasig. -rir
