BY DOMINIQUE GABRIEL G. BAÑAGA
BACOLOD City – Negros Occidental governor Eugenio Jose Lacson still trusts the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) that is under strong criticism over its forecasting on Severe Tropical Storm “Paeng.”
According to Lacson, he himself thought “Paeng” would hit Northern Luzon.
However, he pointed out that as the storm got closer, it became clear that its radius would cover almost all of the country.
“It was not the first time [Pagasa’s forecast] was medyo inaccurate, although as it was happening, they began giving out the right information,” said Lacson.
Earlier on Wednesday, Nov. 2, in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel, Cebu City mayor Michael Rama criticized Pagasa over supposed lapses in forecasting storms.
“I’m not relying anymore on Pagasa. When will we ever learn?” Rama said.
He especially hit Pagasa’s way of forecasting last year’s Super Typhoon “Odette”, pointing out that the weather bureau did not classify it a super typhoon whereas foreign weather bureaus such as the Japan Meteorological Agency were already classifying the storm as such.
“No more justification. Just tell the truth that you lack the necessary technical men, you lack the necessary equipment, and we focus on that,” Rama added.
Pagasa was also not spared from the wrath of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who also hit the agency following the deaths of at least 40 people in Maguindanao during “Paeng’s” onslaught.
“We heard what happened sa Mindanao, [it] was very unfortunate, and then sa Visayas, that is why Region 6 was included in the calamity area,” said Lacson.
Filipino scientists, meanwhile, are urging the present administration to increase the budget of Pagasa for the weather bureau to more accurately forecast weather disturbances and give ample warning to the public, citing rising threats brought by climate change./PN
