8 more typhoons seen to enter Philippines

CEBU, Philippines - At least eight more weather disturbances are expected to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility this year, an official of the state weather bureau said.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration-Visayas chief Oscar Tabada also said a super typhoon may hit the country this year but it would not be as strong as Yolanda.

"Pero so gihapon ta mo kumpyansa.What we should watch out is the volume of water brought about by these weather disturbances. Bantayan gyud ni nato nga mga bagyo," Tabada said during a forum on Disaster Preparedness for La Niña yesterday as part of the Cebu Press Freedom Week celebration.

For the month of September, Tabasa said they expected two to four typhoons hitting the country. Three typhoons have already entered the PAR: Helen, Enteng and Ferdie.

Baltazar Tribunalo Jr., chief of Cebu Provincial Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Office, said the public should not only think about the hazards but on how to address them as well.

Tribunalo added the PDRRMO has conducted a La Niña information drive in 60 schools in Cebu that has benefitted 9,000 school children since June.

Olivia Luces, regional director of the Office of Civil Defense-7, said since Cebu is prone to flooding, landslides, storm surge, among others, everybody should not be complacent.

Nagiel Bañacia, head of Cebu City Disaster Risk and Reduction Management Office, said they have been conducting various disaster preparedness trainings in the barangay to equip the people with the knowledge on what to do during a calamity.

The forum which, was part of the 22nd Cebu Press Freedom Week, was sponsored by Aboitiz Power. It was organized by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas and the Philippine Information Agency-7. (FREEMAN)