8 more typhoons in 2016 - Pagasa
Local government units urged to continue updating disaster preparedness programs
THE country’s weather bureau expects at least eight more typhoons to hit the Visayas by the last quarter of the year even if La Niña phenomenon has started to weaken.
Engr. Oscar Tabada, chief weather specialist of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) Visayas, said that based on its historical data, typhoons often pass by some parts of the Visayas, particularly Central and Western Visayas from October to December.
Tabada was one of the guest speakers in a forum on disaster preparedness for La Niña at the Marcelo Fernan Press Center yesterday as part of the activities of the week-long celebration of Cebu Press Freedom Week.
He urged local government units (LGUs) to prepare as strong typhoons, similar to Yolanda, Pablo and Seniang, often occur during the last quarter of the year.
He said that the La Niña is expected to normalize by February 2017 but rains will still hound some parts of the country as the wind shifts from habagat (southwest monsoon) to amihan (northwest monsoon).
Tabada, however, said that this year is considered as a “weak typhoon year” since there are fewer than 20 storms that are expected to hit the country.
He said this is because of the weak El Niño that hit the country earlier this year.
With more typhoons coming to the country in the next three months, disaster risk reduction and management officers from Cebu Province and Cebu City said that preparations are already in place to counter its effects.
Baltazar Tribunalo Jr., Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer, said that as part of their preparations, they have been updating their multi-hazard maps in areas in the province that are highly susceptible to flooding and landslides.
They also conducted training and workshops in schools, rescue groups and LGUs to ensure that their preparations are updated.
Nagiel Banacia, Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management officer, said that the City Government focused its preparations not just within the community level, but in the families as well.
They are also thoroughly conducting surveillance in areas that are highly susceptible to landslides and flooding through the use of their networks within the barangays, Banacia added.
Olivia Luces, Office of the Civil Defense 7 director, urged LGUs to include persons with disabilities in their disaster preparedness program.