Manila, Nov. 15 -- The foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) want to speed up the operationalization of its coordination center on transboundary haze control.

The renewed call was made during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Pasay City on Saturday amid growing concerns over severe haze pollution that recently affected several Southeast Asian countries.

Widespread forest fires in Indonesia have triggered severe haze, with thick smog drifting as far as the Philippines and prompting class cancellations in the second half of the year.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said Indonesia, in the meeting, conveyed that it is acting on the issue and exerting its best to address the haze pollutio...