Davao's Air Quality: What Actually Stinks About Living Here (And Why I Can't Stop breathing It)

davao’s air? it’s like someone took a matchbox, dissolved it in a river, and forgot to stop. i’ve lived here three years, and the only thing drier than my lungs are the jokes about ‘tropical weather.’ but here’s the deal: i’m a freelance photographer who’s allergic to pretending everything’s fine. so here’s the messy truth about davao’s environmental minutiae.

last week, i checked the airvisual app. pm2.5? hovering around 80ug/m³, whatever that means. for reference-that’s like, ‘not great’ territory. not apocalypse, but not ‘call a doctor’ levels either. it’s that weird gray zone where you wonder if you’re just overreacting. which i am? maybe. but then again, my cousin in metrobank said she coughs up sludge every morning driving from tagum. and sure, the rent’s cheaper here-ph₩12k/mo tops for a room-but is it worth wheezing my way through your church of saint dionis’ photo shoots?

let’s talk weather, though. today’s humidity’s guessing at 78%, which means my panasonic g85 is fogging faster than a krocs sale in ifugao. the ‘green lung’ parks? keep licking their chops at 8am like they’re on vacation. and side note: if you’re a tourist planning to ‘get the vibe,’ remember davao’s beaches are closer to manila than your average slaughterhouse. jonathan’s beach? nice. but also 45-minute drive from the ‘lungs.’ walk instead. or don’t. i’m not your drill sergeant.

data? yeah, okay, here’s the bleak beta:
davao’s air pollution index averages 62/aqicn.org. safety? numbeo says 65.6. cheaper than manila? absolutely. but the job market? murphy’s: nightmare. the only ‘networking’ happening is vendors glaring at my gimbal. and if you’re thinking of moving here: remember the starbucks barista who texted me ‘watch out for the pufferfish sushi’ last month? she’s probably dead now. doesn’t stop her from volunteering advice.

here’s what overheard gossip adds:
"natatawa ka pag bisaya ka." - basically, ‘laugh at locals’ air quality all you want. your lungs will laugh back. also: the saba bank besides don hilario doubles as a methane filtration zone. true.

props to the skyline tower people for not using the greenery on the walls to capture PM2.5. but hey, maybe they’re saving it for when resolution banks declare bankruptcy again.

if you’re a tourist: try fab. it’s clutch. but seriously, book that praia hotel girlana trip. no, wait-don’t. the nicobar islands are less toxic. just kidding. sort of. maybe.

oh, and the poverty rate here? 18% says ncsd. but hey, myovoo is cheaper than starbucks. priority, right?

[insert map of davao’s ‘green lung’ area] and here’s my photoblog: .

realestate? if you’re here for the ‘charm,’ check rearope for houses with AC filters under ph₩50k. but seriously, the mold in davao’s bothersome apartments is its own art form.

final thought: if davao’s air was a dating profile, it’d be ‘excited to meet someone who’s also allergic to pollen.’



(jk, i hate my blog. it’s trash. send help.)

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