Mayor Tin Antonio ng Alcala, Cagayan, umalma sa PAGASA dahil sa late forecast: “Why the delay”
- Mayor Tin Antonio of Alcala, Cagayan, through a social media post questioned the late forecast of PAGASA
- According to the Mayor, PAGASA announced the landfall of the typhoon approximately 20 minutes after it actually made a landfall
- She also lamented what she called the delay of releasing vital information, particularly as regards the path of the typhoon
- Near the end of her post on social media, the Alcala local chief executive claimed that PAGASA took away their confidence and resolve
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Mayor Tin Antonio of Alcala, Cagayan, created a stir on social media recently with her post questioning the late forecast of PAGASA.
Source: Facebook
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), is the agency tasked to monitor low pressure areas and typhoons entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility or PAR.
In her post, Mayor Antonio lamented the alleged untimely fashion that PAGASA gives information.
“The issue with PAGASA is untimely information. Typhoon paths are unpredictable, we all understand that completely. But to learn of the change in track that places our town on a much closer, dangerous path minutes before a trumpeted supertyphoon is upon us is unacceptable,” Mayor Antonio said.
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She pointed out that the typhoon made landfall at 1:30PM at a particular municipality, while PAGASA made the announcement around 2:07PM, or more than 20 minutes after the storm allegedly made landfall.
“We learned about it after the fact of landfall. Landfall in Baggao was 1:30PM; PAGASA made the announcement at 2:07PM. As late as 11:00AM landfall forecast was at Sta. Ana area,” she said.
Mayor Antonio then wondered why were they not given the information at an earlier time.
“Why were we not given the information earlier? Surely, between 11:00AM and 1:30PM landfall, PAGASA must have seen there was a change. Why the delay in releasing that vital information? And why did it take longer to inform after landfall?” the Alcala local chief executive said.
“Some of you say it does not matter where the typhoon exactly landed, because we are in the cone. I tell you, it does. Knowing your proximity to what you perceive as most dangerous matters. Any one of you, ask yourself and answer honestly: WOULD YOU RATHER KNOW THAT YOU WILL BE IN THE EYE OF A SUPERTYPHOON OR NOT? If your answer is it does not matter, you are lying to yourself,” she added.
The Mayor then said that they are very much prepared against storms, but also alleged that their resolve and confidence against the recent storm was taken away by PAGASA.
“Here in Alcala we are well-prepared. We have implemented preemptive and forced evacuation to the utmost; our mitigation measures are in place. By the grace of God and the tireless efforts of our rescuers to respond and disseminate information we have not lost a single soul in the five typhoons we have experienced in one month,” Mayor Antonio said.
“But any responder knows that preparing for a typhoon is not just a physical undertaking. It is motivating people, quieting fears, keeping up morale. It is easing a whole population into a mindset that we will survive. And the tool responders use to get people into that state is TIMELY INFORMATION,” she added.
“No matter the danger, no matter how bad it gets, AS LONG AS WE KNOW AND CAN NAME THAT DANGER, WE CAN FACE IT, AND WE WILL SURVIVE. That confidence, that resolve, is what PAGASA took away from us here in Alcala today,” the local chief executive said.
She then indicated that PAGASA should man up and properly execute their responsibility.
“And so I stand my ground. PAGASA should reflect on the role it plays in this typhoon-ravaged country. If it truly wants to be of service, it should not wash hands and hide behind the unpredictabiliy of typhoons. It should plant itself squarely on the psyche of people who rely on their pronouncements and who stand to lose everything. PLEASE SHARE,” Mayor Antonio concluded.
Source: Facebook
News, photos or videos that arouse the interest of netizens would often go viral on social media, due to the attention netizens give them. These viral posts appeal to the emotions of netizens, and in rare cases, such could also happen to ordinary people, making them very relatable.
One of the most recent typhoons to hit the country and left a trail of devastation and loss of lives was the Typhoon Kristine. In Naga City, the Metropolitan Cathedral published photos of the church submerged in floodwaters. As per its post on its Facebook page, the photos were taken on Tuesday night at the height of Tropical Storm Kristine. Floodwaters reached knee-height levels inside the church and waist-height levels inside the Cathedral Office. In the caption, the page also included a prayer for the safety and well-being of everyone.
Meanwhile, still about Typhoon Kristine, a one year old child perished at the height of the Typhoon Kristine. According to witnesses, the toddler was swept away by raging floodwaters in their area. After a period of searching, rescuers found the toddler’s body in the nearby seas.
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Source: KAMI.com.gh
