September 5, 2024 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Amid criticisms over lack of enough warnings on Tropical Storm Enteng, President Marcos directed yesterday officials of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to be more “dynamic” in making forecasts and issuing public advisories, especially during weather disturbances.
Marcos conducted an aerial inspection of Marikina and Antipolo, Rizal yesterday afternoon to check on the damage brought by the storm. The presidential helicopter flew over some barren mountainous areas of Rizal that Marcos said is a primary cause of the landslides and flooding that claimed lives.
“We will have to look very, very closely at your forecasting, the meteorologists – meteorology assessment is the one that will guide our response,” the President said during a briefing with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.
“And PAGASA, you’re going to have to be the guide what will really happen,” he said.
The President noted the task of weather forecasting has become “more and more difficult” because of climate change, since weather systems now develop much more quickly than they used to, he added.
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda was among those who criticized the weather bureau for its alleged failure to provide enough warning to local government units before the onslaught of Enteng.
PAGASA officials asserted that enough advisories were issued before the onslaught of Enteng, insisting that it applied the PAR plus five, meaning, the Philippine area of responsibility is expanded by about five degrees in case a typhoon develops outside the PAR.
Agricultural damage
The damage of Enteng to the agriculture sector, particularly in the Bicol region, has reached P350.85 million and is expected to further increase, according to data from the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Based on the latest report of the DA’s Operations Center, as of 8 a.m. yesterday, the typhoon has devastated 8,893 hectares of agricultural areas of rice, corn and high value crops with production loss of 14,814 metric tons (MT) affecting 13,623 farmers.
Bulk of the damage was registered in rice plantations, totaling P333.08 million with total production loss of 13,887 MT covering 8,513 hectares. Meanwhile, corn production loss reached P14.01 million covering 361 hectares and production loss of 739 MT.
The damage in high value crops reached P3.76 million covering 19 hectares with production loss of 188 MT.
According to the DA, at least P202.86 million worth of assistance, including seeds, bio-control measures and farm tools were given to the affected farmers.
At a separate press briefing, DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said combined losses of palay production due to various calamities from January to August 2024 have reached almost 400,000 metric tons and could breach 600,000 MT annual average production losses amid the threat of La Niña.
Infrastructure damage
The Philippines has sustained nearly P109 million in public infrastructure damage so far from the non-stop rains brought by Enteng and the southwest monsoon.
In an advisory, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said the pounding rains in Luzon caused at least P108.49 million in damage to public structures as of Sept. 4.
Broken down, the partial cost of damage covers P54.26 million on infrastructure, P35.38 million on roads, P11.63 million on bridges and P7.02 million on flood control projects.
Over to the docks and piers, the Philippine Ports Authority reported that all ports affected by Enteng and the monsoon are back to normal operations.
Meanwhile, one road section in Central Luzon remains closed while two roads in NCR and Bataan have limited access due to flooding brought by Enteng, Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan said yesterday.
A total of nine road sections have been cleared and reopened by the DPWH since Monday in CAR, Regions 2, 4A, 5 and 8.
GSIS loans
State-run pension fund Government Service Insurance System has opened its emergency loan program to members and pensioners affected by Enteng.
GSIS members who have an existing emergency loan balance may borrow up to P40,000 to pay off their previous balance and still receive a maximum net amount of P20,000.
Those without existing emergency obligations, as well as pensioners, may apply for a P20,000 loan.
The loan is payable in three years or 36 equal monthly installments at an interest rate of six percent per annum.
It also has a loan redemption insurance, which deems the loan fully paid in case of the borrower’s demise.
Meanwhile, telco operator PLDT, its wireless unit Smart Communications and Globe Telecom are working to keep their signals up to ensure that subscribers can contact authorities if need be. – Bella Cariaso, Elijah Felice Rosales, Jose Rodel Clapano, Rainier Allan Ronda, Louise Maureen Simeon
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