Delisting Kristine, Aghon, Carina eyed

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is eyeing to remove the names of Kristine, Aghon and Carina in the list of typhoons amid the extent of damage brought by the three cyclones in the country.

PAGASA weather specialist Benison Estareja yesterday said that the state weather bureau removes the name of a cyclone from the list if it caused at least 300 casualties or at least P1 billion worth of damage to agriculture and infrastructure.

“At the end of the year, PAGASA assesses the impacts of the typhoons and it is possible that we will decommission some names like Aghon, Kristine and Carina. For Carina, it was the southwest monsoon which caused damage and we continue to assess if it will qualify to be decommissioned,” Estareja said.

Typhoon Aghon was the first cyclone to hit the country this year. Its damage to infrastructure and agriculture reached more than P1 billion nationwide, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

Meanwhile, the damage of Carina and the southwest monsoon to the agriculture sector alone has reached P1.21 billion.

“Carina and habagat dumped 324 millimeters of rains in July 2024 while Ondoy and habagat dumped 444 mm in a 24-hour period in September 2009,” Estareja said.

The NDRRMC reported more than 100 fatalities amid the devastation of Kristine. It added that the damage to the agriculture and infrastructure has reached more than P11 billion.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police is extending assistance to about 4,781 police personnel and their families severely affected by cyclones Kristine, Ofel and Pepito.

The PNP’s engineering response team has been mobilized to prioritize repair and restoration for at least 774 damaged homes of police personnel in disaster-hit areas. — Mark Ernest Villeza