Southeast Asian foreign ministers are set to discuss measures to tackle transboundary haze during preparatory meetings ahead of the ASEAN summit in November, as forest and land fires in Indonesia continue to affect air quality across the region, the Philippines said on Tuesday.
Forest and land fires that have burned for months in Indonesia have recently sent thick haze across Singapore and Malaysia. Malaysia closed schools in several states last week after air pollution levels reached unhealthy levels.
The wildfires, concentrated mainly on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Borneo, are the country's most intense in 11 years.
Philippine Foreign Ministry spokesperson Dominic Xavier Imperial confirmed on Tuesday that the haze issue would be included on the agenda for preparatory foreign ministers' meetings in November ahead of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said on Monday that he would raise the issue with ASEAN, noting that the bloc's existing mechanisms for responding to natural disasters did not specifically cover transboundary haze.
Malaysia has previously offered assistance to Indonesia to help contain the fires.
Mohamad said firefighting efforts in many areas had been hampered by poor visibility, difficult access and unsuitable conditions for cloud seeding, citing discussions with his Indonesian counterpart.
The haze issue is expected to feature in regional discussions as Southeast Asian leaders prepare for the November ASEAN summit.
The gathering is the highest policy-making meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
It brings together heads of state or government from member countries to shape regional strategy, economic growth, and security.
U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to travel to the Philippines for the ASEAN summit on 16 November before heading to Shenzhen, China, for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, scheduled for 17-19 November.
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