Environmental groups urge against waste burning amid Indonesian haze

Environmental organizations are urging the public to avoid burning agricultural and household waste to prevent worsening air quality in the Philippines. This advisory comes as haze from ongoing forest and peatland fires in Kalimantan, Indonesia, is observed in parts of the country.

Representatives from Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) and the EcoWaste Coalition noted that open burning is prohibited under RA 9003. They warned that such practices release particulate matter and toxic dioxins, which can exacerbate the effects of the transboundary haze. The groups also called for authorities to monitor disposal sites to prevent spontaneous landfill fires.

While the Environmental Management Bureau reported that air quality in the Davao Region remains generally acceptable, some monitoring stations, such as the Calinan station, have recorded ‘very unhealthy’ levels of PM2.5 due to the haze.