Pagasa-Mactan as reg’l forecasting hub

Amid the mounting complaints in the aftermath of Typhoon Lando on the lousy and slow forecast by the weather bureau, the Regional Disaster Coordinating Council is considering the Mactan office of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration as the forecasting center in Central Visayas.

This developed after local officials and even ordinary citizens believed that most of the Cebuanos were caught offguard when the storm battered the city last week. Though it denied failure in its forecasting, the weather bureau was quoted as admitting that it lacked modern weather facility.

In a recent press conference, Police Regional Office-7 director Ronald Roderos, who is also the head of the RDCC, said they would pass a resolution to establish a regional forecasting station.

The resolution will be submitted to the National Disaster and Coordinating Council. The RDCC will be asking the NDCC for additional funds for the purchase of new weather equipment.  

Roderos also called on the weather bureau to issue regular weather bulletin, particularly when foul weather occurs in order for the public to prepare for any contingency plan.

But Pagasa-Mactan chief meteorological Oscar Tabada said they are waiting for the go-signal from their weather bureau in Manila before issuing any weather forecast.

When the storm struck the region last Monday, it left two persons dead and uprooted P45 million worth of crops in Central Visayas.

Likewise, the Department of Agriculture recorded an estimated P17-million damage to ricefields in the provinces of Cebu and Oriental Negros.

The Department of Public Works and Highways also reported a damage of P36 million to infrastructures in the region. In Cebu, the damage to the Cebu Transcentral Highway due to landslides was pegged at P5 million.

Clearing operations in the affected roads are now being conducted by the DPWH.

The RDCC also reiterated advising the local chief executives to exercise their discretionary power in suspending classes or works in public offices within their jurisdiction. — Gerome M. Dalipe/LPM