Tamaraw, Ugong debut on 2023’s list of typhoon names

MANILA, Philippines — Two new names, Tamaraw and Ugong, will join the list of names given to typhoons that will enter the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR) this year.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) administrator Vicente Malano said the names Tisoy and Ursula were removed from the 2019 registry.

This year, names that will be used to identify typhoons in the PAR are Amang, Betty, Chedeng, Dodong, Egay, Falcon, Goring, Hanna, Ineng, Jenny, Kabayan, Liwayway, Marilyn, Nimfa, Onyok, Perla, Quiel, Ramon, Sarah, Tamaraw, Ugong, Viring, Weng, Yoyoy and Zigzag.

The name Tisoy was removed from the list after the typhoon devastated the country in December 2019, leaving behind at least 17 fatalities in Luzon and the Visayas.

Ursula, on the other hand, also caused so much devastation the same month, leaving at least 57 people dead, mostly in the Visayas.

Malano told The STAR that the list of typhoon names being used by PAGASA follows a four-year cycle, which is why 2019’s list will now be used for 2023 minus the delisted names.