MANILA, Philippines – The country should expect 16 more tropical cyclones before year-end, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), as the country is in the so-called “active typhoon season.”
Pagasa weather branch chief Nathaniel Cruz made the disclosure during a Senate hearing on the country’s preparedness for natural calamities. He and National Disaster Coordinating Council executive Anthony Golez Jr. said the government was generally ready for disasters, but losses amounting to some P15 billion are expected due to damage caused by typhoons that may lead to flooding and landslides.
In connection with this, President Arroyo has ordered the release of P500 million to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to speed up the repair and rehabilitation of schools ravaged by storm Cosme in time for the opening of classes on June 10.
Sen. Rodolfo Biazon, chairman of the Senate committee on national defense, said they would like to assess the country’s readiness for the calamities and see what kind of legislation could be made to improve the capabilities of various government agencies in preventing or mitigating damage to property and loss of lives.
Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, for his part, called for an accounting of the P10-billion calamity fund, including the Calamity Assistance and Rehabilitation Effort (CARE) allocation for the victims of typhoons Milenyo, Reming and Seniang, particularly in the Bicol region.
Zubiri filed Resolution No. 346 to investigate the matter as he noted that the Philippines was not ready for major disasters, particularly an earthquake of a magnitude that hit China recently.
Cruz said for this year PAGASA and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) monitored at least 20 tropical cyclones, four of which had crossed the country.
“The last was Dindo and before that was Cosme, which caused destruction in Pangasinan and Zambales,” he said.
Cruz said the 16 tropical cyclones would hit primarily Luzon and Visayas once they cross the Philippines’ area of responsibility.
Last year, only 14 tropical cyclones were experienced in the country. He said the increased number of tropical cyclones for this year was because of the La Niña phenomenon being felt since January.
Cruz said with an active typhoon season, the country could expect “tropical cyclones, tropical depression, storm, typhoon and super typhoons.”
He said they had given out the information to all disaster management and other concerned agencies as well as local government units so necessary preparations could be made.
The rainy season “officially” started last week, Pagasa declared.
As regards earthquakes, Zubiri said officials from the various agencies, particularly the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), admitted the country might not be fully equipped to respond to a 7.2 magnitude earthquake almost similar to what hit China.
Philvocs chief Renato Solidum said his office had studied possible generators of earthquakes that could affect Metro Manila.
“A possible source of earthquake is the Manila Trench, the fault that is in the sea and which may cause tremors and tsunami that could reach the shores of Bataan, Zambales, Mindoro, Batangas Cavite, Manila Bay and Metro Manila,” Solidum said.
Another source can be the Valley Fault System, which used to be the Marikina Valley Fault System, that can cause a 7.2 magnitude earthquake.
“These are not predictions but scenarios we use to see potential impact in Manila. It can be that strong and there might be a lot of damage because of the many buildings we have here in Metro Manila,” he said.
Meanwhile, Public Works Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. yesterday said President Arroyo has instructed the DPWH to prioritize the province of Pangasinan in the repair of school buildings.
The money would be used to purchase galvanized iron sheets for the roofs. The agency was also tasked to repair damaged roads and scoured shoulders.
Ebdane also gave instructions to his regional directors and district engineers to repaint all pedestrian markings, especially those fronting the schools. –Evelyn Macairan