The PSI in Singapore hardly ever crosses the "Moderate" range (PSI value of 51-100), but trans-boundary haze, which affects air quality almost once every year – particularly during the southwest monsoon – is still a nuisance. It is not just Singapore that suffers when land and forest fires rage in neighbouring countries – other countries in the ASEAN region, too, suffer from hits to tourism, an increase in respiratory ailments and illnesses, and even economic consequences when the haze drifts into their countries. The battle against the haze is an ongoing one for the region, which includes both preventive and reactive measures to protect the populations of all affected countries. Last FY proved productive on this front. Firstly, August 2005 saw a key milestone in the set-up of a Panel of Experts on Fire and Haze Assessment and Coordination by ASEAN countries to undertake the rapid assessment of the situation on the ground during critical periods of fires and haze, and provide recommendations to facilitate immediate response and effective mobilisation of resources in the region. NEA's Meteorological Services Division represents Singapore in the Expert Panel. Secondly, a set of trigger points and activation levels for activating a joint emergency response as recommended by the Panel of Experts was established. Thirdly, the haze issue was given special mention by the ASEAN Leaders at the 11th ASEAN Summit held on 12 December 2005 in Kuala Lumpur. The ASEAN Leaders pledged their commitment and resolve to address the haze issue. "While noting the various measures that have been undertaken at the national level over the years, and at the regional level guided by the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, we recognised the need to further intensify and undertake coordinated action, particularly to address the underlying causes of land and forest fires." This effort was in addition to the ASEAN Environment Ministers' commitment and resolve to jointly tackle the haze problem, as issued through the Joint Communique on Transboundary Haze Pollution at the 9th Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment in September 2005. On the local front, Singapore has its own Haze Task Force, chaired by NEA's Director-General for Environmental Protection. It comprises some 23 relevant government and agency bodies. One of its tasks is to develop a National Haze Action Plan and formulate strategies to help ameliorate the impacts of haze on the population. Besides NEA, MINDEF and SCDF also played their part in helping Indonesia fight the land and forest fires. In August 2005. SCDF deployed a contingent of 54 fire fighters to Sumatra to help in fire-fighting efforts. In addition, MINDEF offered a C-130 aircraft to help Indonesia with its cloud seeding operations. "We noted with satisfaction the concerted actions taken by ASEAN Member Countries during the recent severe haze episode by mobilising personnel, aircraft and equipment to suppress the fires and stand ready to provide such assistance during critical periods in the future," noted Director-General of Environmental Protection, NEA, Mr Loh Ah Tuan. | 