MANILA, Philippines — Enough advisories were issued before the onslaught of Tropical Storm Enteng, officials of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration asserted yesterday.
PAGASA was reacting to a Facebook post by Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda criticizing the weather bureau for its alleged failure to provide enough warning to local government units (LGUs).
At a press conference, PAGASA administrator Nathaniel Servando disclosed that the weather bureau still implements the “PAR plus five” rule, in which warnings are issued in specific areas in case a weather disturbance develops outside the Philippine area of responsibility.
“Of course, we respect the comment of honorable Congressman Salceda through Facebook. It is correct, we implement the PAR plus five, meaning, our Philippine area of responsibility is expanded by about five degrees so that in case a typhoon develops outside the PAR, we can issue tropical cyclone advisories bulletin,” Servando explained.
In his Facebook post, Salceda wrote: “PAGASA sleeping on the job risking lives. How can we realize or be informed that there is a possible TC (tropical cyclone), TD (tropical depression), LPA (low-pressure area) in less than 12 hours. What happened to the PAR plus five rule?”
“The difference of Tropical Storm Enteng, it developed from a low-pressure area into a typhoon near the landmass of the Visayas, particularly the eastern portion of Samar Island. Before it developed into a typhoon, we had already issued weather advisories amid rains being experienced in the eastern part of the Visayas, even though it was still an LPA,” Servando said.
Last Sunday, PAGASA announced that the LPA had turned into Tropical Depression Enteng before it intensified into a tropical storm that evening.
“The only difference (of Tropical Storm Enteng), is that it had already developed (into a typhoon) within the PAR,” Servando added.
PAGASA deputy administrator for research and development Marcelino Villafuerte II refuted Salceda’s claim that the weather bureau was “sleeping on the job.”
“I would like to mention that we monitor these kinds of inclement weather events 24 hours, so we want to say that we are not sleeping, as we want our fellow citizens to be informed, especially those to be affected by flooding, typhoons and any calamities,” Villafuerte said.
He added that as early as Aug. 28, PAGASA had been issuing information on the possible tropical cyclone.
Meanwhile, PAGASA weather services chief Juanito Galang noted that the bureau even expanded the “PAR plus five” rule to additional 15 “PAR plus five or 135 longitude plus five degrees, which is equivalent to 140 longitude, meaning that the state weather bureau gives information regarding a tropical cyclone or low-pressure area beyond 140 longitude.
“We added 10 to 15 degrees so we provide information (to areas) around 155 longitude,” Galang said.
Marcos: Suspend classes as early as possible
As this developed, President Marcos yesterday directed concerned government agencies to issue class and work suspension during inclement weather as early as possible to ensure the safety of the public.
Marcos made the remark as Enteng was pummeling many parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila, with heavy rains and strong winds.
“We will try to give the bulletin as early as possible for work and school tomorrow (Tuesday). My instruction to them is, if possible, before we go to bed, let us know if there is school tomorrow or not, so that people can adjust,” the President said in an interview at Malacañang.
Classes in all levels, in both public and private schools, as well as government work in the National Capital Region (NCR) were suspended yesterday due to inclement weather.
The class suspension in the NCR was announced by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on Facebook at 4:41 a.m., quoting a directive from the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES).
The cancellation of government work in the nation’s capital, however, was announced by the PCO on its Facebook page at 8:47 a.m.
“In view of the inclement weather brought about by … Enteng, work in government offices in the National Capital Region is hereby suspended at 8:30 a.m. today, Sept. 2, 2024,” the PCO announced, quoting the OES.
Government agencies whose functions involve the delivery of basic and health services, preparedness or response to disasters and calamities and/or the performance of other vital services were directed to continue their operations.
The decision to suspend work for private companies and offices, meanwhile, was left by the OES to the discretion of their respective heads.
Some social media users have expressed their dismay over Malacañang’s supposed late announcement of work suspension, saying they were already drenched in the rain. — Helen Flores, Marc Jayson Cayabyab