The haze hovering the Visayas has gradually settled down, with concentration of fine particulates now below the standard for tolerable level.

Particulate matters at 2.5 micrograms (PM2.5) reached 110 micrograms against the standard or tolerable level of 75 micrograms since Saturday until Monday.

However, the latest observation by the EMB-7 Ambient Quality Monitoring Team of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-7 regional office noted it had reduced since yesterday to a range between 50-60.

For particulate matters at 10 micrograms (PM10), it reached 153 micrograms against the standard of 150 micrograms over the weekend, but it has reduced to a lower range since yesterday.

EMB-7 Regional Director William Cuñado, said it would be now up to the individuals whether they still want to wear face masks.

In an earlier interview with DYRD Inyong Alagad, DENR-7 Regional Director Isabelo Montejo warned Bohol residents that the 2.5-microgram particulates are those that people can easily inhale because it is very fine.

The wind velocity has improved from a very low level at less than 0.1 meter per second during the weekend, and has moved the haze gradually.

For his part, Cuñado explained that the northeast monsoon has already taken over the season, gradually reversing the wind direction that might bring the haze from Indonesia to other places away from the Philippines.

However, it is still uncertain when the haze would totally dissipate, considering that Indonesia might take two years to put off the forest fires that caused the haze.

Health officials here warned that inhaling the particulates in haze could be detrimental to health, especially those with existing heart ailments and problems with their lungs.