PAGASA, the Philippines’ weather bureau, is working to improve its storm warnings after Senator Imee Marcos said there weren’t enough alerts before Typhoon Kristine hit. Marcelino Villafuerte II, PAGASA’s deputy administrator, called her remarks “constructive criticism” and promised to keep making their services better.
Villafuerte explained that PAGASA now gives early warnings, sometimes up to two weeks before a storm, if there’s a chance a cyclone might enter the country. They also issue weather advisories that predict rainfall, even in areas without storm signals, to help people prepare for possible floods or landslides.
Senator Marcos pointed to Kristine’s heavy rainfall as a reason for the high number of casualties, suggesting more timely alerts could have saved lives. She noted that with an increased budget, PAGASA should provide clearer warnings in future storms. As of now, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reports 150 deaths, 20 missing, and 143 injuries related to Typhoon Kristine.
