Pagasa expects 2 typhoons next month

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration-Cebu warned the public of at least two typhoons next month.

Pagasa-Cebu officer-in-charge Alfredo Quiblat, Jr. said they are expecting two to three typhoons to enter the country next month.

“At average, 18 to 20 tropical cyclones visit the country every year,” Quiblat said during the Kapihan sa PIA forum yesterday.

He added that 16 or 17 more typhoons are expected to come this year. Quiblat said that the frequent thunderstorm is an indication that the rainy season is coming.

Quiblat advised the public to already start cleaning their surroundings to prepare for the rainy season.

“We should fix our open containers in order to prevent dengue. And since there is already a change of weather, diseases will rise, so we must take vitamins,” Quiblat added.

Meanwhile, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) officer Neil Sanchez advised school principals and administrators not to let students leave school should classes be suspended.

“Let them remain there, and contact their parents so they can be fetched,” Sanchez said, adding that many public elementary schools are situated in flood-prone areas.

He pointed out an incident where a seven-year-old student was swept by flood.

The Mines and Geosciences Bureau has declared 31 cities and towns in Cebu as “flood and landslide prone” areas. Among these are Minglanilla, Naga, Santander, Consolacion, Mandaue City, and Danao City.

Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (CCDRRMC) executive officer Cathy Yso assured the public that the city government is prepared for the rainy season.

In fact, no reported overflow of waterways during last Monday’s heavy rains. Yso said the city government had been cleaning the waterways in preparation for the rainy season.— Raffy Cabristante and Marielle Shayne Palaubsanon/FPL