Wet and dry areas in the county to experience more of the same, says PAGASA official
QC, June 29 (PIA) –- Areas that have been visited by typhoons and heavy rains recently may experience more of the same weather disturbance, said Science and Technology Undersecretary Graciano P. Yumul, Jr.
He said this was the scenario that the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) foresees in the future. is that expects 14 – 16 weather disturbances that may enter the country within the second half of the year.
“Makikita natin na ang mga basa ay mas magiging basa; at yong tuyo ay lalong magiging tuyo. At may posibilidad na ang tuyo ay maging basa, at ang basa ay maging tuyo,” he said.
(Areas that experience rains will have more rain, and areas that are dry will remain dry. But there’s also the possibility that areas experiencing rains now will become dry, and vice-versa.)
“The best example of this is Mindanao, which has experienced heavy rains lately, while Isabela (in the North) is very dry,” he said. “But the typhoon is just there in Northeastern Luzon.”
He explained that this is the result of global warming which pushes the atmosphere to generate more moisture. “Signs ito ng pag-iinit ng mundo… nagbabago na ang mundo, nagbabago na ang Pilipinas, (This indicates the onset of global warming…climate change is taking place in our world, and in the Philippines),” he said.
Yumol said the PAGASA scenario for 2020-2050 is that parts of the country that have wet climatology will experience more rainfall, while dry areas will be more dry than usual.
To adapt with the changing climate, PAGASA is batting for installation of more Doppler radars in strategic locations that will cover the entire Philippine area of responsibility.
Doppler radars measure the amount of rainfall in a particular area affected by a weather disturbance.
PAGASA Administrator Nathaniel T. Servando said that three (3) more Doppler radars will be acquired, in addition to the 10 Doppler radars now in place. Two of these have received funding from the national government. Hence, this year, two radars will be installed in Palawan and Zamboanga. Another Doppler radar will be mounted in the Panay Island.
Servando, likewise, revealed that there is an on-going initiative to fund another set of Doppler equipment for Basco, Batanes.
Meanwhile, Director Ronald Flores of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Center (NDRRMC) has asked the local government officials to adjust their respective contingency plans in a way that it can adapt with the changing climate. Yumol also asked the public to stay informed on the latest weather news via media monitoring.
Yumol, Flores, and Servando were the resource persons of the Communication and News Exchange (CNEX) activity of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) today. (PIA-MIMAROPA)
