PAGASA: 15 More typhoon will hit the Philippines in 2011

With 6 tropical cyclones affecting the Philippines since the start of 2011, Science and Technology Undersecretary Graciano Yumul said the country should prepare for 12 to 15 more tropical cyclones in the coming months.

Speaking to ANC's "Dateline" on Saturday, Yumul said the country should brace itself for more weather disturbances, which he said could be the effect of global warming.

"Dapat ma-realize ng ating mga kababayan na iyong mga nangyayari ngayon, ito na ang normal, hindi na ito ang abnormal. Kasi ang lahat ng pag-aaral dahil sa global warming ay nagpapakita na ang [mga lugar na] basa ay mas lalong magiging basa, ang mga tuyo ay mas lalong magiging tuyo," Yumul said.

"Kaya ang responsibilidad ng pag-iingat talaga ay nasa indibidwal. Sana kapag may warning ay makinig ang ating mga mamamayan," he added.

Lesson learned

Yumul noted that the country's preparedness and response to recent tropical storms "Egay" and "Falcon" have improved. He cited the combination of efficient forecasting, the media and the public’s cooperation as reasons for this.

"There was a good teamwork among the forecasters, media practitioners and people responded correctly, which is very important,” he said.

Yumul stressed that the Philippines is considered as one of the best countries in disaster risk management.

“From January to March, we had a lot of flooding wherein 75 people died. The same kind of magnitude of flooding happened in Australia and 45 people died. Statistics showed, based on a U.N. study, that for every dead person in a developed country, 20 people should actually die in a developing country. Instead of 900, only 75 people died,” explained Yumul.

It means that the local government units are doing its job well, he said.

Yumul also explained that "Falcon" did not reach "Ondoy" proportions.

He said that rains dumped on 2009 were a combination of Ondoy’s landfall and the southwest monsoon. Rains dumped by Falcon, meanwhile, were caused by southwest monsoon alone.

Praise for PAGASA forecasters

Currently, Yumul said the country is using 4 Doppler radars, which are useful in providing detailed weather information including intensity and volume of rainfall in the country.

By 2016, the state weather bureau expects 14 Doppler radars to be fully operational.

Yumul also praised the weather forecasters of Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), who he said are constantly being sought by foreign weather agencies.

“That’s why I tell our kababayans, every time you hit the people of PAGASA, you should really think twice. Our people in PAGASA are so good that a lot of foreign agencies keep on recruiting them,” he said.

"The people in PAGASA are doing this for the love of country, plain and simple," said Yumul.

source: abs-cbn news