President Benigno Aquino III. SCREENGRAB from RTVM

With a number of provinces now affected by the haze caused by forest fires in Indonesia, President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday said he prefers to offer help than blame its Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) neighbor.

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Earlier reports said Palawan, Cebu, Leyte, General Santos City, Davao and Cotabato are just some of the areas affected by the haze, which brings about increased risk of respiratory infections and cardiac ailments, according to the Department of Health.

“Instead of castigating an Asean brother country, in the Asean Summit we should really look for wherewithal direction, the attitude of change, to help Indonesia avoid this problem,” the President said during a forum hosted by the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (Focap) at Solaire in Paranaque.

“That, I think, is the most constructive activity that we should be undertaking. Rather than concentrating on apportioning blame,” he said.

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Aquino explained that the haze just recently reached the country and that he is still waiting for the Department of Science and Technology’s study and recommendation on the matter. RAM