Legazpi: The Environmental Management Bureau in Bicol (EMB-5) assured residents near Mayon Volcano that air quality remains "good" as it intensifies monitoring of pollutants linked to volcanic activity. "We are proud to say that we have not reached the orange level. There are areas that have reached yellow, which is fair, but these are very specific locations, such as Mi-isi Gully, and they vary depending on wind direction," EMB-5 Director Geri Geronimo Sa±ez said in a press conference on Wednesday.

According to Philippines News Agency, Sa±ez mentioned that EMB-Bicol conducts daily air monitoring in Camalig, Guinobatan, Ligao, Legazpi, and Tabaco for particulate matter (PM) and sulfur dioxide (SO2). Water quality in several rivers is tested weekly for suspended solids, phosphates, and heavy metals such as lead and cadmium, with results remaining within national standards.

Under the air quality health guide, "good" (green) ranges from 0-50; "fair" (yellow) ranges from 51-100; "unhealthy for sensitive groups" (orange) ranges from 101-150; "very unhealthy" (red) ranges from 151-200; "acute unhealthy" (purple) ranges from 201-300; and "emergency" (brown) is above 300.

Sa±ez added that the agency has requested additional funds to rent an EBAM (Environmental Beta Attenuation Monitor), a real-time monitoring unit, currently costing PHP113,000 per month. "We have not reached critical levels in relation to air quality, and we are still strengthening our monitoring capability and increasing the number and coverage of our air quality monitoring equipment in the area," he said.

EMB-Bicol will continue monitoring until Mayon Volcano's alert level is downgraded. Mayon remains at Alert Level 3, with lava flows reaching 3.8 km from Basud Gully, 3.2 km from Bonga Gully, and 1.8 km from Mi-isi Gully. At least 30 volcanic earthquakes, including 20 tremors lasting two to 30 minutes and 185 rockfall events were recorded.