Noy to remind officials to issue disaster warnings in Filipino

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino yesterday promised to remind weather forecasters and spokesmen to use Filipino in issuing public storm warnings or typhoon signals, amount of rainfall and height of floodwaters.            

The President was distracted when journalists asked him about officials speaking in English when talking about the weather.            

Aside from the issue on language, the President did not raise any problem with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), even if the agency was again accused of issuing inaccurate weather prediction for Metro Manila.     

Aquino said PAGASA issued “red” rainfall warnings for Central Luzon, National Capital Region and Region 4-A, and even for some portions of Region 1.

A red rainfall warning means possible severe flooding, the highest in the three-stage warning system. 

When told that weather warnings and advisories were done in English and using technical terms, the President said spokespersons must simplify it to make it more understandable for everyone.

He recalled that when they started in office, only storm signals were issued as typhoon strength was based on wind strength. 

Not as bad as last year

Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson said the damage brought by the southwest monsoon and Tropical Storm Maring was not as bad as last year’s monsoon rains.         

Singson said they were still consolidating data from the field and assessing the damage from the three-day torrential rains.                  

“But my initial assessment, it is not as bad as the Aug. 6 to 9 last year,” Singson said.  In those days, strong winds and heavy rains spawned by the southwest monsoon battered Metro Manila.        

“Last year the rains came from Sierra Madre but now it’s from the coastal area, in the portion of Cavite,” he said, adding that in Sangley Point, the rainfall for 48 hours was estimated to be more than twice the average for the month of August. 

He praised PAGASA for the accurate weather reporting, which he said alerted the public and the government on the expected volume of rainfall.

DPWH-National Capital Region (NCR) Director Reynaldo Tagudando said they saw potholes along Roxas Boulevard, Buendia particularly near EDSA, and C5 Road when they inspected the roads the other day.

Tagudando said floodwater is asphalt’s worst enemy. Singson said they have been continuing with the Blumentritt Interceptor, a flood control project in Manila constructed to intercept floodwaters from Quezon City and prevent it from flowing toward España.                

He said by the middle of 2014, flooding along España would be lessened. He said the project costs P620 million.

“The Blumentritt Interceptor is like a water tunnel measuring 2.6 kilometers long, 2.6 meters deep and 3.6 meters wide. So the water coming from Quezon City would no longer reach España and Laong Laan streets,” he said.

The project stretches through Dapitan-Laong Laan-Blumentritt-Chinese General Hospital-Jose Abad Santos street and exits at the Sunog Apog Creek and Maypajo Creek in Manila.               

Another DPWH project was intended to lessen flooding in Mandaluyong City, particularly in Maysilo Circle.

The agency is currently constructing box culverts to catch floodwater, which would be pumped into the Pasig River.       

Meanwhile, environmentalists said the country could have been more prepared for the calamities had public funds been used in a comprehensive climate adaptation program.

The Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (PNE) said the recent flooding was a clear manifestation of climate change.  

On Monday, record-breaking rainfall inundated parts of Luzon, particularly Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Zambales, and Metro Manila. – With Evelyn Macairan, Rhodina Villanueva