Salceda reiterates need for Pagasa modernization
By Rey M. Nasol
LEGAZPI CITY -- Albay Gov. Joey Salceda reiterated his call for the modernization of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) and the institutionalization of disaster management operations in the whole country to prevent onslaughts of catastrophes during typhoons.
Salceda said that as Super Typhoon Pepeng (PARMA) lingers on Bicol provinces and nearby areas with sustained winds of 195 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 230 kph, the apparent lack of warning instruments of the government weather agency and an institutionalized disaster management program of local disaster councils would be the major cause of deaths and destruction of infrastructure wrought by storms every time it hits the country.
In his analysis on how disaster authorities cope with Tropical storm 'Ondoy' (International name Ketsana), Salceda, said the crux of over 200 deaths and people in various parts of Metro Manila and neighboring regions is failure in warning.
The pagasa has no Doppler radar to forecast short-run rainfall content of incoming typhoons or other weather disturbances.
Salceda exposed earlier that the agency is using manual rain gauges that capture data too late and the access of disaster authorities to the system is not direct and not on real time, the governor pointed out.
As a top administration economic adviser, Salceda, is also a climate change advocate and is known worldwide for his “pre-emptive” evacuation procedures in times of calamities.
He deplored that with the currect setup, typhoon warnings are limited only to wind – no flood warning or landslide warning system to activate evacuation.
Salceda said “with no, little or late warning and no institutionalized disaster management system, the National Capital Region (NCR) and other regions were caught flat-footed at the sudden on-set of the flood.”
“They failed to issue advisories on what to do, no evacuation order was issued prior to the flood event, and these advisories must be scientifically done,” he said.
For this reasons, Salceda recommended that the weather agency should expedite acquisition of Doppler radars, develop a flood warning system to activate evacuation procedures by disaster authorities.
He also urged local disaster councils to institutionalize disaster preparedness at the local governments level.
He also highly recommended the implementation of a pre-emptive evacuation procedures to prevent further the loss of lives. “Rescue is not needed if people are already evacuated,” he pointed out.
Dam water discharge warning should also be integrated into Pagasa warning and forecast.
He also urged representatives of the Lower House to immediately pass its version of the proposed Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) bill to institutionalize DRR in the regional, provincial and local levels. The Senate version has already been approved, Salceda said.
The Philippines should start to adapt measures to the escalating impacts of climate change as manifested by recent extreme weather events, he said.
Albay was able to attain zero-casualty because of the above strategies and therefore the rest of the country and the world, for that matter, can. (RMN)
Quake surges rock Mayon anew
By Rey M. Nasol
LEGAZPI CITY – Mayon Volcano’s restive activity caught new attention even as disaster authorities are busy manning residents for their safety against super typhoon ‘Pepeng’.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) had reported Friday morning that at least 35 volcanic earthquakes jolted Mayon Volcano on Thursday, the highest recorded seismic event since July when the volcano showed intense signs of restiveness.
The surge started as the month of October entered with 14 volcanic quakes on Wednesday observation up to Thursday this week while only one was recorded on Tuesday.
Dr. Eduardo Laguerta, Phivolcs resident volcanologist said the agency seismic networks has recorded a total of 82 earthquakes that rocked the volcano since Sept. 27.
Scientists monitoring the volcano still do not discount the possibility of explosive eruption because of the fluctuating seismic precursors such as quakes, ground swelling and gas emissions that indicate the dangers.
Phivolcs Friday’s advisory said high and low frequency harmonic quakes were detected by seismic instruments signifying that magma intrusion is developing in the volcano’s crater vent
Sulfur Dioxide disgorge from Mt Mayon indicated a fluctuating trend ranging from 392 tons per day to 445 tons per day for the past three days. No reading was recorded yesterday because of bad weather.
Laguerta said the fluctuating rates of gas emission is indicative that magma is building up to the crater in preparation for an imminent eruption.
Laguerta said the agency is still assessing the abnormal state of the volcano based on given parameters like ground deformation, volcanic quakes and gas emission, and crater glow.
Precise Leveling result indicate a 6.0 mm swelling on the volcano edifice was noted bulging at the Buang while Lidong lines posted a 1.0 mm inflation.
The volcano’s crater glow was obscured by the prevailing bad weather in Albay
Alert level 2 remains hoisted over Mayon volcano, Phivolcs strongly recommend that the 6-km Permanent Danger Zone including the 7-km extended danger zones should be off limits to any human activity due to threat from sudden explosions and rockfalls from the upper slopes of the volcano.
Lahar flows were also warned against the residents living along river channels, gullies and the low lying areas. (RMN)
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