Elevated pollution makes Metro Cebu air quality ‘unhealthy’ again

A view of Cebu City with light haze in April 2026 | CDN Digital file photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Air quality in Metro Cebu fell back to unhealthy levels over the weekend after a spike in pollutant levels, the Environmental Management Bureau in Central Visayas (EMB-7) said.

Data from the bureau’s Talisay City Station, which represents air quality across the metro, showed elevated levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) with an air quality index (AQI) of 125 on Sunday, May 17.

Under standard AQI classifications, readings between 101 and 150 fall under the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” category.

Meanwhile, the bureau recorded dangerous PM2.5 pollution levels on Saturday, May 16, with an AQI of 152 falling under the “very unhealthy” category.