Urduja advisory causes stir
An official of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in the Visayas has denied the agency issued a weather advisory two nights ago, which said the eye of storm Urduja would move over Bantayan Island in northern Cebu.
Joey Figuracion, weather specialist of PAGASA Regional Service Division for Visayas, said the 24/7 operation center in Mactan did not release any information aside from the data cascaded from the central forecasting center in Manila and the advisory labeled “SEVERE WEATHER ADVISORY” was not one of those released.
Figuracion said that upon verification, PAGASA’s central office in Manila also denied issuing the advisory.
The advisory read: “Please be informed. Typhoon #Urduja update in the Visayas. Residents of Bantayan Island & Daanbantayan. Source: PAG-ASA. Residents of Bantayan Island and Daan Bantayan At 10 PM tonight, December 16, 2017, high tide is expected. At 11 PM tonight, December 16, 2017, expect that the eye of the storm will pass through your area, approximately 78kms, away from your area. High tide and strong storm wind is likely to cause wind wave. A wind wave is a ‘baby’ storm surge. LGUs in coastal areas are enjoined to ensure that residents from coastal areas have been safely evacuated.”
The advisory was posted on the Facebook page of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (OPAV).
In a separate interview yesterday, Engr. Oscar Tabada, head of PAGASA Visayas, said the projection came from him and he shared the same during a coordination meeting with OPAV and other government agencies afternoon on December 16.
However, he clarified that it was not him who composed the advisory itself nor did he provide the infograph that accompanied it. He said he only presented possible scenarios during the coordination meeting.
The good news is that the projected scenario never happened as Urduja went stationary when it passed through the vicinity of Samar province.
The movement and direction of the disturbance changed the storm's course.
MEETING
In an interview with The FREEMAN, OPAV assistant secretary Jonji Gonzales said the office called for the coordination meeting after Urduja made landfall in San Policarpo town in Eastern Samar.
Aside from Tabada, present in the meeting were representatives of the Department of Health, Department of Public Works and Highways, Office of Civil Defense, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and AFPCentral Command.
Gonzales said Tabada's presentation of possible scenarios specified that Urduja may cause wind wave in the coastal waters of Daanbantayan and Bantayan towns in northern Cebu.
Gonzales said he knew that the correct reference is “wind wave” but, during the meeting, it was reportedly thought that the public may
not understand the same easily, thus, it was suggested that the words “baby storm surge” be used instead.
“During the meeting, we thought no one would understand the term wind wave…we used the term baby storm surge so that the public will not take it lightly and will relate to it easily,” he said.
OPAV then released visuals of the advisory online.
A storm surge is one of the hazards associated to a typhoon - the fourth of the five classifications of a tropical cyclone, known locally as “bagyo”. Urduja was classified only as tropical storm, the second classification.
Storm surge are ocean waves being pushed towards the shore by the force of the winds and the intense low pressure of the storm.
This term became popular locally when super typhoon Yolanda hit the Philippines in November 2013. Affected households witnessed giant waves ravaging coastal villages.
Aside from the advisory it produced, OPAV also notified local government units that may be affected and asked them to take heed of precautions.
OPAV also coordinated with the Philippine Information Agency - 7 to coordinate with information officers of LGU's.
Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot said the town received the advisory about the “baby storm surge” from OPAV and not from PAGASA.
Gonzales said the advisory was able to “save lives”.
“Contrary to what media people say that it was fake news, the intention of that was not to create panic but allow the public to understand the severity of the possible damage,” he said.