CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (April 22) — A short-lived dip in air quality triggered concern Tuesday morning—but by late afternoon, skies over this city and nearby Iligan had stabilized back to “good,” easing fears of a sustained pollution event.
The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in Northern Mindanao said monitoring stations showed fluctuating readings over the past four days, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) moving between “moderate” and “good.”
At around 8 a.m., however, both Cagayan de Oro City and Iligan City briefly registered levels classified as “unhealthy for sensitive groups”—a threshold that can affect children, the elderly, and people with respiratory conditions.
By 5 p.m., readings had normalized.
EMB-10 Director Reynaldo Digamo Jr. attributed the spike to localized emissions and shifting weather patterns, stressing that the changes were temporary and not indicative of a broader air pollution crisis.
He also pushed back against online speculation, urging the public to rely on verified, science-based updates rather than unconfirmed social media claims.
Local officials have advised residents to take simple precautions—such as wearing face masks outdoors—during periods when air quality dips to “moderate,” especially for those in vulnerable groups.
The episode highlights how quickly urban air conditions can shift, particularly in industrial corridors like northern Mindanao, where weather, traffic, and emissions intersect. For now, authorities say, the air is safe—but the margin for change remains thin.
