THE Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said it is expecting up to 16 tropical cyclones this year, one or two of them next month.
The number is lower compared than the annual average of 19 to 20 tropical cyclones, said Ana Solis said, chief of PAGASA’s Climate and Monitoring and Prediction Section.
Solis, in a radio interview, said the country starts to experience tropical cyclones normally as early as January. This year, the country’s first tropical cyclone came just this month, typhoon “Aghon,” because of the El Niño phenomenon.
“2024 is unusual because we have below-average rainfall conditions (due to El Niño), we have less tropical cyclones at the start of the year,” she said.
“Then towards the end of the year, we’ll possibly experience above average rainfall conditions (due to La Niña). So we could experience both extreme weather and climate events this year,” she added.
Solis said one or two of the tropical cyclones expected this year may be experienced next month.
“In July, we’re expecting two or three; August, two or three, until October,” she said.
Solis said the tropical cyclones in October are expected to bring above normal rainfall.
PAGASA on Wednesday declared the onset of the rainy season. It cited the occurrence of scattered rain showers, frequent thunderstorms, passage of Aghon, and the southwest monsoon as parameters for the declaration.
Solis said El Niño is in the “decaying stage.”
“In the near future, in the coming weeks, its possible PAGASA will be issuing the final El Niño advisory.”
As to the La Niña, Solis said it may start in the July-August-September period.
The official death toll from typhoon Aghon has increased to six persons with one confirmed injured, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said yesterday.
The Camp Aguinaldo-based NDRRMC reported one confirmed death as of Wednesday — a 14-year-old female who was hit by a fallen tree in Misamis Oriental last May 24.
Yesterday, the council confirmed five more Aghon-related deaths, all in Quezon. Three of these deaths are in Lucena City — two due to fallen trees and the other due to drowning, the NDRRMC said. It said one of the three was a 14-year-old male.
The fourth fatality in Quezon, the NDRRMC said, drowned in Padre Burgos town while the fifth perished after being hit by fallen tree in San Antonio town.
The Quezon provincial police office previously reported six deaths in Quezon due to drowning and fallen tree.
An official of the Batangas provincial disaster risk reduction office has also previously reported one death in the province due to electrocution.
AFFECTED RESIDENTS
The NDRRMC said the number of affected population slightly increased to 16,404 families or 51,858 individuals in 364 barangays in Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Bicol, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, and National Capital Region.
It said 9,015 families or 33,890 individuals were displaced. The number was down already to 5,463 families or 21,225 individuals as of yesterday, the NDRRMC said.
The initial cost of damage to agriculture was placed at P21.65 million in Calabarzon alone, the NDRRMC also said.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development said 36,549 families or 128,511 individuals from 773 barangays in nine regions in the country were affected by typhoon Aghon.
The DSWD has delivered more at least P3.6 million worth of humanitarian assistance to the affected families.
CARABAOS
Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian led the turnover of farming carabaos
and P10,000 cash assistance each to 50 Aetas in Capas, Tarlac, for use in farming and to boost their livelihood.
Gatchalian led the turnover of the carabaos and cash aid under the Pag-Abot program during simple ceremonies held in Barangay Maruglu in Capas.
The program stemmed from the Pag -Abot and Pag-Abot sa Pasko programs launched in July and December 2023, respectively, where individuals and families living in the streets, including indigents who flock to Metro Manila and the urban cities to beg during the holiday season, were rescued and returned to their communities especially those from the provinces.
The DSWD first visited the Aeta community in February this year to assess their situation and determine the most appropriate intervention for them.
Gatchalian said the provision of carabaos and livelihood assistance is just one of the many programs provided by the DSWD to improve the welfare of indigenous peoples and other disadvantaged Filipinos. — With Jocelyn Montemayor
