Pagasa says slim chance of La Niña but LGUs must prepare for typhoons

CHANCES of an intense La Niña phenomenon in the Visayas have now decreased but the Philippines’ weather bureau, Pagasa, urges local government units (LGUs) to still fortify their efforts in disaster risk reduction as typhoons are still expected to hit the region in the last quarter of the year.

According to Pagasa Visayas director Engineer Oscar Tabada, the bureau’s Visayas data shows that the amount of rainfall this month is 137 millimeters or only 11 millimeters to go before it reaches the normal amount of 148 millimeters.

“The data that we have from Dumaguete and Iloilo suggest that rains in the region are now normal,” he said.

“The forecast we released a few months back which said that there is a 55 percent probability of La Niña until February 2017 is no longer true,” he said, stating that the rainfall levels in the Visayas have already returned to normal with a rate of 60 percent.

Although the likelihood of excessive rains in the region has gone down, Tabada still urged LGUs to continue being vigilant as historical records have shown that strong typhoons usually hit regions during the last stretch of the year.

He cited typhoons Senyang, Sendong, and Yolanda as examples.

“La Niña or without La Niña, we must be vigilant. We must use our preparations against La Niña in preparing against typhoons,” said Tabada.

At the moment, Pagasa expects eight more typhoons that might hit the region starting October.

Tabada also clarified that the rains being experienced in Cebu City during the past few days were caused by Hanging Habagat (Southwest Monsoon).

The transitory phase leading to Hanging Amihan (Northeast Monsoon) is also seen to bring rains in the coming weeks.

Tabada was among the guests in yesterday’s “Disaster Preparedness for La Niña” forum at the Marcelo B. Fernan Cebu Press Center along with Office of Civil Defense Regional
Director Olivia Luces, Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) Chief Baltazar Tribunalo Jr., and Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) Chief Nagiel Banacia where they urged college students and information officers of various government agencies to be proactive in their disaster preparedness.

They also enjoined participants to closely monitor and validate every piece of information that reaches them.

The forum, which acknowledged the importance of collaboration between media and government in advancing information-sharing and education for disaster risk reduction, was among several events held to celebrate Cebu Press Freedom Week 2016.