Manila Air Quality Improves After Hazardous Haze From Indonesian Fires

Air quality in Manila and other parts of the Philippines improved significantly on Tuesday afternoon, September 1, 2026, after a morning of hazardous conditions linked to haze from fires in Indonesia. The improvement followed urgent public health warnings and advisories for residents to take precautions against the poor air. The Manila Public Information Office reported that by 2 p.m., three of the city's five monitoring stations recorded "Good" air quality levels, while two others registered "Fair." This marked a notable shift from earlier in the day, when three stations had reported "Very Unhealthy" conditions and two others were classified as "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups." The improved readings were recorded at Puregold Tayuman, Sta. Ana Hospital, and Rajah Sulayman Park, with Anda Circle and San Sebastian Residences showing fair levels. The morning's poor air quality was part of a broader regional issue. Data from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources' Environmental Management Bureau in the National Capital Region, as of 6 a.m., showed that eleven cities in Metro Manila recorded "acutely unhealthy" levels of PM2.5, or fine particulate matter.